Cold Wave Risk in West Virginia
All West Virginia counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index cold wave score
Cold Wave risk — prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures — is rated for 55 of 55 West Virginia counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. McDowell County carries the state's highest cold wave score at 92.8, with $5M in expected annual cold wave losses.
2 West Virginia counties are rated High or Very High for cold wave, and expected annual losses from cold wave total roughly $35M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Cold Wave
| # | County | Cold Wave Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McDowell County | High | 0.84 / yr | $5M | |
| 2 | Nicholas County | High | 2.19 / yr | $5M | |
| 3 | Greenbrier County | Medium | 5.56 / yr | $5M | |
| 4 | Mercer County | Medium | 4.32 / yr | $3M | |
| 5 | Wyoming County | Medium | 0.84 / yr | $2M | |
| 6 | Summers County | Medium | 4.37 / yr | $2M | |
| 7 | Monroe County | Medium | 4.63 / yr | $1M | |
| 8 | Logan County | Low | 0.63 / yr | $1M | |
| 9 | Webster County | Low | 3.13 / yr | $848K | |
| 10 | Mingo County | Low | 0.63 / yr | $671K | |
| 11 | Raleigh County | Low | 1.98 / yr | $760K | |
| 12 | Pocahontas County | Low | 5.32 / yr | $672K | |
| 13 | Upshur County | Low | 1.74 / yr | $637K | |
| 14 | Hardy County | Low | 2.59 / yr | $430K | |
| 15 | Braxton County | Low | 1.00 / yr | $397K | |
| 16 | Kanawha County | Low | 0.74 / yr | $412K | |
| 17 | Lewis County | Low | 1.32 / yr | $397K | |
| 18 | Lincoln County | Low | 0.68 / yr | $328K | |
| 19 | Grant County | Low | 4.75 / yr | $294K | |
| 20 | Jackson County | Low | 0.89 / yr | $307K | |
| 21 | Pendleton County | Low | 7.51 / yr | $368K | |
| 22 | Roane County | Low | 0.84 / yr | $250K | |
| 23 | Fayette County | Low | 1.97 / yr | $285K | |
| 24 | Cabell County | Low | 0.84 / yr | $294K | |
| 25 | Monongalia County | Very Low | 2.67 / yr | $341K | |
| 26 | Mason County | Very Low | 0.89 / yr | $220K | |
| 27 | Wayne County | Very Low | 0.79 / yr | $202K | |
| 28 | Barbour County | Very Low | 1.74 / yr | $240K | |
| 29 | Tucker County | Very Low | 5.42 / yr | $194K | |
| 30 | Wetzel County | Very Low | 2.47 / yr | $182K | |
| 31 | Randolph County | Very Low | 5.40 / yr | $191K | |
| 32 | Calhoun County | Very Low | 1.00 / yr | $141K | |
| 33 | Preston County | Very Low | 4.19 / yr | $155K | |
| 34 | Harrison County | Very Low | 1.58 / yr | $158K | |
| 35 | Marion County | Very Low | 2.53 / yr | $174K | |
| 36 | Wood County | Very Low | 1.32 / yr | $146K | |
| 37 | Berkeley County | Very Low | 1.89 / yr | $195K | |
| 38 | Putnam County | Very Low | 0.79 / yr | $147K | |
| 39 | Mineral County | Very Low | 3.97 / yr | $116K | |
| 40 | Gilmer County | Very Low | 1.00 / yr | $154K | |
| 41 | Tyler County | Very Low | 1.53 / yr | $84K | |
| 42 | Morgan County | Very Low | 1.90 / yr | $103K | |
| 43 | Boone County | Very Low | 0.68 / yr | $87K | |
| 44 | Ritchie County | Very Low | 1.32 / yr | $122K | |
| 45 | Hampshire County | Very Low | 2.48 / yr | $107K | |
| 46 | Jefferson County | Very Low | 1.79 / yr | $146K | |
| 47 | Pleasants County | Very Low | 1.47 / yr | $79K | |
| 48 | Marshall County | Very Low | 2.58 / yr | $92K | |
| 49 | Ohio County | Very Low | 2.68 / yr | $40K | |
| 50 | Hancock County | Very Low | 2.84 / yr | $31K | |
| 51 | Taylor County | Very Low | 1.79 / yr | $32K | |
| 52 | Clay County | Very Low | 0.79 / yr | $19K | |
| 53 | Brooke County | Very Low | 2.84 / yr | $16K | |
| 54 | Doddridge County | Very Low | 1.58 / yr | $22K | |
| 55 | Wirt County | Very Low | 1.00 / yr | $11K |
55 West Virginia counties with measurable cold wave risk. See the national cold wave ranking or all West Virginia counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which West Virginia county has the highest cold wave risk?
McDowell County has the highest FEMA cold wave risk score in West Virginia at 92.8 (High), with $5M in expected annual losses and about 0.84 events per year.
How many West Virginia counties face significant cold wave risk?
55 West Virginia counties record measurable cold wave risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 2 of them are rated High or Very High.