Michigan cold wave risk
Wayne County has the highest cold wave risk in Michigan, scoring 99.7 out of 100 — rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wayne County | 99.7 | Very High |
| 2 | Oakland County | 99.3 | Very High |
| 3 | Macomb County | 99 | Very High |
| 4 | Genesee County | 98.3 | Relatively High |
| 5 | Dickinson County | 96.3 | Relatively High |
| 6 | Iron County | 96.2 | Relatively High |
| 7 | Marquette County | 96.2 | Relatively High |
| 8 | Sanilac County | 95.7 | Relatively High |
| 9 | Grand Traverse County | 95.6 | Relatively High |
| 10 | Saginaw County | 94.9 | Relatively High |
| 11 | St. Clair County | 93.3 | Relatively High |
| 12 | Washtenaw County | 93.1 | Relatively High |
| 13 | Leelanau County | 92.9 | Relatively High |
| 14 | Bay County | 89.9 | Relatively High |
| 15 | Kent County | 89.4 | Relatively High |
| 16 | Ingham County | 89.2 | Relatively High |
| 17 | Menominee County | 89.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| 18 | Berrien County | 88.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| 19 | Huron County | 88 | Relatively Moderate |
| 20 | Delta County | 87.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| 21 | Tuscola County | 87.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| 22 | Shiawassee County | 85.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| 23 | Midland County | 84.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| 24 | Monroe County | 84 | Relatively Moderate |
| 25 | Lapeer County | 83.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| 26 | Lenawee County | 83 | Relatively Moderate |
| 27 | Livingston County | 80.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| 28 | Emmet County | 80.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| 29 | Kalamazoo County | 79.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| 30 | Jackson County | 78.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| 31 | Charlevoix County | 78.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| 32 | Isabella County | 77.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| 33 | Gogebic County | 77.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| 34 | Antrim County | 76.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| 35 | Calhoun County | 75.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| 36 | Wexford County | 75.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| 37 | Benzie County | 75.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| 38 | Ottawa County | 73.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| 39 | Kalkaska County | 73.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| 40 | Baraga County | 72.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| 41 | Clare County | 69.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| 42 | Cheboygan County | 69.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| 43 | Iosco County | 68.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| 44 | Eaton County | 68.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| 45 | Houghton County | 68.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| 46 | Cass County | 67.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| 47 | Gladwin County | 67.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| 48 | Gratiot County | 67.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| 49 | Mecosta County | 65.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| 50 | Manistee County | 64.1 | Relatively Low |
| 51 | Hillsdale County | 64 | Relatively Low |
| 52 | St. Joseph County | 63.9 | Relatively Low |
| 53 | Montcalm County | 63.4 | Relatively Low |
| 54 | Roscommon County | 63.1 | Relatively Low |
| 55 | Alpena County | 62.8 | Relatively Low |
| 56 | Clinton County | 62.5 | Relatively Low |
| 57 | Ionia County | 62 | Relatively Low |
| 58 | Otsego County | 61.5 | Relatively Low |
| 59 | Ogemaw County | 60.6 | Relatively Low |
| 60 | Branch County | 60.2 | Relatively Low |
| 61 | Chippewa County | 60.2 | Relatively Low |
| 62 | Van Buren County | 58.4 | Relatively Low |
| 63 | Muskegon County | 58.2 | Relatively Low |
| 64 | Allegan County | 57.8 | Relatively Low |
| 65 | Arenac County | 55.2 | Relatively Low |
| 66 | Missaukee County | 53.9 | Relatively Low |
| 67 | Osceola County | 53.8 | Relatively Low |
| 68 | Newaygo County | 53.6 | Relatively Low |
| 69 | Barry County | 50.5 | Relatively Low |
| 70 | Crawford County | 49.9 | Relatively Low |
| 71 | Ontonagon County | 46.2 | Relatively Low |
| 72 | Alcona County | 45 | Relatively Low |
| 73 | Mackinac County | 42.9 | Relatively Low |
| 74 | Presque Isle County | 42.4 | Relatively Low |
| 75 | Mason County | 42 | Relatively Low |
| 76 | Montmorency County | 39.4 | Relatively Low |
| 77 | Oscoda County | 38.1 | Relatively Low |
| 78 | Alger County | 37.6 | Relatively Low |
| 79 | Lake County | 37.4 | Relatively Low |
| 80 | Schoolcraft County | 30.2 | Relatively Low |
| 81 | Oceana County | 29.5 | Relatively Low |
| 82 | Luce County | 16.4 | Very Low |
| 83 | Keweenaw County | 11.3 | 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 Michigan:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest cold wave risk county in Michigan?
Wayne County, MI has the highest cold wave risk in Michigan, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 99.7 out of 100 (rated "Very High").
How many counties in Michigan are rated Very High for cold wave risk?
3 of 83 scored Michigan counties are rated "Very High" for cold wave risk by FEMA's National Risk Index.
What causes cold wave risk in Michigan?
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.