Heat Wave Risk in West Virginia
All West Virginia counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index heat wave score
Heat Wave risk — prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure — is rated for 54 of 55 West Virginia counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Kanawha County carries the state's highest heat wave score at 91.7, with $3M in expected annual heat wave losses.
No West Virginia county reaches the High band for heat wave, and expected annual losses from heat wave total roughly $19M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Heat Wave
| # | County | Heat Wave Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kanawha County | Medium | 4.16 / yr | $3M | |
| 2 | Cabell County | Medium | 4.68 / yr | $3M | |
| 3 | Wayne County | Medium | 4.53 / yr | $2M | |
| 4 | Putnam County | Medium | 4.47 / yr | $2M | |
| 5 | Lincoln County | Low | 4.37 / yr | $764K | |
| 6 | Berkeley County | Low | 3.58 / yr | $1M | |
| 7 | Mason County | Low | 4.42 / yr | $700K | |
| 8 | Wood County | Low | 3.53 / yr | $717K | |
| 9 | Logan County | Low | 3.63 / yr | $576K | |
| 10 | Mingo County | Low | 3.37 / yr | $438K | |
| 11 | Jefferson County | Low | 3.69 / yr | $747K | |
| 12 | Boone County | Low | 3.68 / yr | $386K | |
| 13 | Jackson County | Low | 4.05 / yr | $440K | |
| 14 | Monongalia County | Low | 1.99 / yr | $296K | |
| 15 | Harrison County | Low | 1.89 / yr | $194K | |
| 16 | Roane County | Very Low | 3.68 / yr | $147K | |
| 17 | Marion County | Very Low | 2.21 / yr | $203K | |
| 18 | Morgan County | Very Low | 3.21 / yr | $136K | |
| 19 | Mineral County | Very Low | 1.50 / yr | $137K | |
| 20 | Ohio County | Very Low | 2.16 / yr | $171K | |
| 21 | Marshall County | Very Low | 2.42 / yr | $139K | |
| 22 | Brooke County | Very Low | 1.95 / yr | $82K | |
| 23 | Hancock County | Very Low | 1.95 / yr | $105K | |
| 24 | Hampshire County | Very Low | 1.84 / yr | $96K | |
| 25 | Wetzel County | Very Low | 2.47 / yr | $68K | |
| 26 | Clay County | Very Low | 2.42 / yr | $45K | |
| 27 | Braxton County | Very Low | 2.21 / yr | $54K | |
| 28 | Tyler County | Very Low | 2.74 / yr | $44K | |
| 29 | Hardy County | Very Low | 1.79 / yr | $53K | |
| 30 | Lewis County | Very Low | 1.89 / yr | $52K | |
| 31 | Pleasants County | Very Low | 2.95 / yr | $46K | |
| 32 | Calhoun County | Very Low | 3.16 / yr | $45K | |
| 33 | Ritchie County | Very Low | 2.95 / yr | $51K | |
| 34 | Wirt County | Very Low | 3.42 / yr | $46K | |
| 35 | Preston County | Very Low | 0.63 / yr | $43K | |
| 36 | Grant County | Very Low | 1.26 / yr | $35K | |
| 37 | Wyoming County | Very Low | 0.42 / yr | $25K | |
| 38 | Gilmer County | Very Low | 2.58 / yr | $38K | |
| 39 | Doddridge County | Very Low | 2.26 / yr | $33K | |
| 40 | Raleigh County | Very Low | 0.16 / yr | $24K | |
| 41 | Taylor County | Very Low | 1.26 / yr | $29K | |
| 42 | McDowell County | Very Low | 0.32 / yr | $15K | |
| 43 | Fayette County | Very Low | 0.18 / yr | $19K | |
| 44 | Upshur County | Very Low | 0.53 / yr | $17K | |
| 45 | Barbour County | Very Low | 0.53 / yr | $16K | |
| 46 | Nicholas County | Very Low | 0.16 / yr | $9K | |
| 47 | Pendleton County | Very Low | 0.22 / yr | $3K | |
| 48 | Tucker County | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $707 | |
| 49 | Mercer County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $2 | |
| 50 | Summers County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $2 | |
| 51 | Greenbrier County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 | |
| 52 | Webster County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 | |
| 53 | Randolph County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 | |
| 54 | Monroe County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
54 West Virginia counties with measurable heat wave risk. See the national heat wave ranking or all West Virginia counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which West Virginia county has the highest heat wave risk?
Kanawha County has the highest FEMA heat wave risk score in West Virginia at 91.7 (Medium), with $3M in expected annual losses and about 4.16 events per year.
How many West Virginia counties face significant heat wave risk?
54 West Virginia counties record measurable heat wave risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 0 of them are rated High or Very High.