Louisiana cold wave risk
East Baton Rouge Parish has the highest cold wave risk in Louisiana, scoring 98.7 out of 100 — rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Baton Rouge Parish | 98.7 | Relatively High |
| 2 | Orleans Parish | 97.7 | Relatively High |
| 3 | Lafayette Parish | 97.6 | Relatively High |
| 4 | Jefferson Parish | 96.5 | Relatively High |
| 5 | St. Landry Parish | 93 | Relatively High |
| 6 | St. Tammany Parish | 92.7 | Relatively High |
| 7 | Rapides Parish | 92.6 | Relatively High |
| 8 | Calcasieu Parish | 92.3 | Relatively High |
| 9 | Caddo Parish | 92.1 | Relatively High |
| 10 | Pointe Coupee Parish | 92 | Relatively High |
| 11 | Evangeline Parish | 90.8 | Relatively High |
| 12 | St. Martin Parish | 90.7 | Relatively High |
| 13 | Terrebonne Parish | 89.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| 14 | Iberia Parish | 85.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| 15 | Acadia Parish | 84.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| 16 | Livingston Parish | 84.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| 17 | Avoyelles Parish | 84.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| 18 | Tangipahoa Parish | 83.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| 19 | Ascension Parish | 82.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| 20 | Lafourche Parish | 81.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| 21 | Vermilion Parish | 77.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| 22 | St. Mary Parish | 76.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| 23 | Iberville Parish | 73.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| 24 | West Feliciana Parish | 71.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| 25 | Ouachita Parish | 70.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| 26 | Vernon Parish | 70.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| 27 | West Baton Rouge Parish | 69 | Relatively Moderate |
| 28 | East Feliciana Parish | 66.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| 29 | Allen Parish | 66 | Relatively Moderate |
| 30 | Bossier Parish | 65.2 | Relatively Low |
| 31 | Jefferson Davis Parish | 60 | Relatively Low |
| 32 | St. Charles Parish | 58.8 | Relatively Low |
| 33 | Washington Parish | 56.5 | Relatively Low |
| 34 | St. John the Baptist Parish | 55.6 | Relatively Low |
| 35 | Concordia Parish | 55 | Relatively Low |
| 36 | Beauregard Parish | 53.8 | Relatively Low |
| 37 | St. Bernard Parish | 51.8 | Relatively Low |
| 38 | Assumption Parish | 50.3 | Relatively Low |
| 39 | Plaquemines Parish | 45.4 | Relatively Low |
| 40 | Morehouse Parish | 44.6 | Relatively Low |
| 41 | St. James Parish | 43.3 | Relatively Low |
| 42 | Richland Parish | 42.3 | Relatively Low |
| 43 | St. Helena Parish | 39.8 | Relatively Low |
| 44 | East Carroll Parish | 36.5 | Relatively Low |
| 45 | Madison Parish | 32.3 | Relatively Low |
| 46 | Webster Parish | 31.1 | Relatively Low |
| 47 | Catahoula Parish | 30.8 | Relatively Low |
| 48 | De Soto Parish | 29.9 | Relatively Low |
| 49 | West Carroll Parish | 29.8 | Relatively Low |
| 50 | Franklin Parish | 25.3 | Relatively Low |
| 51 | Grant Parish | 24.3 | Relatively Low |
| 52 | Sabine Parish | 22.9 | Very Low |
| 53 | LaSalle Parish | 22.4 | Very Low |
| 54 | Tensas Parish | 20.7 | Very Low |
| 55 | Natchitoches Parish | 20 | Very Low |
| 56 | Union Parish | 18.8 | Very Low |
| 57 | Cameron Parish | 17.4 | Very Low |
| 58 | Lincoln Parish | 14.8 | Very Low |
| 59 | Caldwell Parish | 14.1 | Very Low |
| 60 | Bienville Parish | 12.4 | Very Low |
| 61 | Winn Parish | 12.1 | Very Low |
| 62 | Claiborne Parish | 11.3 | Very Low |
| 63 | Jackson Parish | 11.1 | Very Low |
| 64 | Red River Parish | 11.1 | Very Low |
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 Louisiana:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest cold wave risk county in Louisiana?
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA has the highest cold wave risk in Louisiana, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 98.7 out of 100 (rated "Relatively High").
What causes cold wave risk in Louisiana?
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.