New Jersey cold wave risk
Essex County has the highest cold wave risk in New Jersey, scoring 95.4 out of 100 — rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Essex County | 95.4 | Relatively High |
| 2 | Middlesex County | 94.3 | Relatively High |
| 3 | Hudson County | 93.9 | Relatively High |
| 4 | Sussex County | 93.9 | Relatively High |
| 5 | Morris County | 93.1 | Relatively High |
| 6 | Passaic County | 92.2 | Relatively High |
| 7 | Bergen County | 91.9 | Relatively High |
| 8 | Camden County | 91.6 | Relatively High |
| 9 | Ocean County | 90.5 | Relatively High |
| 10 | Warren County | 88.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| 11 | Monmouth County | 87 | Relatively Moderate |
| 12 | Cumberland County | 86.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| 13 | Union County | 85.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| 14 | Mercer County | 85.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| 15 | Atlantic County | 81.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| 16 | Burlington County | 81.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| 17 | Gloucester County | 78.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| 18 | Somerset County | 74 | Relatively Moderate |
| 19 | Cape May County | 50.9 | Relatively Low |
| 20 | Hunterdon County | 47.7 | Relatively Low |
| 21 | Salem County | 42.7 | Relatively 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 New Jersey:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest cold wave risk county in New Jersey?
Essex County, NJ has the highest cold wave risk in New Jersey, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 95.4 out of 100 (rated "Relatively High").
What causes cold wave risk in New Jersey?
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.