Colorado cold wave risk
Adams County has the highest cold wave risk in Colorado, scoring 97.2 out of 100 — rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adams County | 97.2 | Relatively High |
| 2 | Weld County | 96.3 | Relatively High |
| 3 | Larimer County | 94.8 | Relatively High |
| 4 | Denver County | 92.1 | Relatively High |
| 5 | Pueblo County | 91.6 | Relatively High |
| 6 | Arapahoe County | 91.1 | Relatively High |
| 7 | Yuma County | 85 | Relatively Moderate |
| 8 | Logan County | 79.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| 9 | Kit Carson County | 79.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| 10 | El Paso County | 74.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| 11 | Morgan County | 74.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| 12 | Jefferson County | 73.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| 13 | Boulder County | 70.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| 14 | Prowers County | 68.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| 15 | Douglas County | 63.8 | Relatively Low |
| 16 | Otero County | 63.7 | Relatively Low |
| 17 | Alamosa County | 58.2 | Relatively Low |
| 18 | Rio Grande County | 55.2 | Relatively Low |
| 19 | Conejos County | 54.8 | Relatively Low |
| 20 | Broomfield County | 50.4 | Relatively Low |
| 21 | Washington County | 50.3 | Relatively Low |
| 22 | Elbert County | 49.3 | Relatively Low |
| 23 | Las Animas County | 40.8 | Relatively Low |
| 24 | Baca County | 37.8 | Relatively Low |
| 25 | Phillips County | 37.5 | Relatively Low |
| 26 | Cheyenne County | 35.8 | Relatively Low |
| 27 | Crowley County | 34.9 | Relatively Low |
| 28 | Montezuma County | 32.8 | Relatively Low |
| 29 | Mesa County | 30.9 | Relatively Low |
| 30 | Lincoln County | 30.5 | Relatively Low |
| 31 | Sedgwick County | 29.3 | Relatively Low |
| 32 | Saguache County | 27.4 | Relatively Low |
| 33 | Bent County | 27.1 | Relatively Low |
| 34 | Costilla County | 23.6 | Very Low |
| 35 | Montrose County | 19.9 | Very Low |
| 36 | Delta County | 19.6 | Very Low |
| 37 | Kiowa County | 16.3 | Very Low |
| 38 | Fremont County | 13.6 | Very Low |
| 39 | Moffat County | 12.1 | Very Low |
| 40 | Garfield County | 11.7 | Very Low |
| 41 | Rio Blanco County | 10.5 | Very Low |
| 42 | Routt County | 9.6 | Very Low |
| 43 | Gunnison County | 7.2 | Very Low |
| 44 | Huerfano County | 6.3 | Very Low |
| 45 | Teller County | 6.2 | Very Low |
| 46 | Summit County | 5.7 | Very Low |
| 47 | Dolores County | 5.6 | Very Low |
| 48 | Chaffee County | 5.5 | Very Low |
| 49 | Mineral County | 5.4 | Very Low |
| 50 | Jackson County | 5.2 | Very Low |
| 51 | Park County | 4.3 | Very Low |
| 52 | Custer County | 4.2 | Very Low |
| 53 | Gilpin County | 4.2 | Very Low |
| 54 | Clear Creek County | 4.1 | Very Low |
| 55 | Grand County | 4 | Very Low |
| 56 | Lake County | 3.8 | Very Low |
| 57 | Eagle County | 3.5 | Very Low |
| 58 | Pitkin County | 3.2 | Very Low |
| 59 | San Miguel County | 3.2 | Very Low |
| 60 | La Plata County | 3 | Very Low |
| 61 | Archuleta County | 2.7 | Very Low |
| 62 | Hinsdale County | 2.4 | Very Low |
| 63 | Ouray County | 2.4 | Very Low |
| 64 | San Juan County | 0 | No Rating |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. Scores are 0–100 percentile rankings among all US counties. See the methodology page for definitions. Download the full CSV for all counties.
Cold Wave risk nationally:
Other hazard risks in Colorado:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest cold wave risk county in Colorado?
Adams County, CO has the highest cold wave risk in Colorado, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 97.2 out of 100 (rated "Relatively High").
What causes cold wave risk in Colorado?
Cold wave risk captures expected losses from extended periods of extreme cold, including wind chill. The northern Plains, Great Lakes, and interior New England see the most severe and frequent cold events. Cold extremes cause significant excess mortality, especially among unhoused populations, the elderly, and those with inadequate heating or insulation. Cold and wind chill events are reported at forecast-zone level in NOAA Storm Events and are not included in county-level counts.