Nevada cold wave risk
White Pine County has the highest cold wave risk in Nevada, scoring 43.3 out of 100 — rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | White Pine County | 43.3 | Relatively Low |
| 2 | Elko County | 22.4 | Very Low |
| 3 | Nye County | 10.2 | Very Low |
| 4 | Lander County | 9.3 | Very Low |
| 5 | Eureka County | 5.9 | Very Low |
| 6 | Humboldt County | 5.8 | Very Low |
| 7 | Esmeralda County | 5.2 | Very Low |
| 8 | Lincoln County | 5.2 | Very Low |
| 9 | Churchill County | 2.7 | Very Low |
| 10 | Clark County | 2.6 | Very Low |
| 11 | Pershing County | 2.4 | Very Low |
| 12 | Mineral County | 2.2 | Very Low |
| 13 | Washoe County | 2.2 | Very Low |
| 14 | Douglas County | 0 | No Rating |
| 15 | Lyon County | 0 | No Rating |
| 16 | Storey County | 0 | No Rating |
| 17 | Carson City | 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 Nevada:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest cold wave risk county in Nevada?
White Pine County, NV has the highest cold wave risk in Nevada, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 43.3 out of 100 (rated "Relatively Low").
What causes cold wave risk in Nevada?
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.