New Mexico cold wave risk
McKinley County has the highest cold wave risk in New Mexico, scoring 87.6 out of 100 — rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McKinley County | 87.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| 2 | San Juan County | 87.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| 3 | Doña Ana County | 82 | Relatively Moderate |
| 4 | Lea County | 78.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| 5 | Cibola County | 65.4 | Relatively Low |
| 6 | Bernalillo County | 56.7 | Relatively Low |
| 7 | Eddy County | 55.1 | Relatively Low |
| 8 | Santa Fe County | 48.3 | Relatively Low |
| 9 | Luna County | 44.9 | Relatively Low |
| 10 | Curry County | 43.3 | Relatively Low |
| 11 | Taos County | 38.4 | Relatively Low |
| 12 | Chaves County | 34.7 | Relatively Low |
| 13 | San Miguel County | 34 | Relatively Low |
| 14 | Sierra County | 33 | Relatively Low |
| 15 | Rio Arriba County | 30.5 | Relatively Low |
| 16 | Roosevelt County | 26.6 | Relatively Low |
| 17 | Colfax County | 26.5 | Relatively Low |
| 18 | Otero County | 25 | Relatively Low |
| 19 | Sandoval County | 24 | Relatively Low |
| 20 | Quay County | 22 | Very Low |
| 21 | Socorro County | 21.7 | Very Low |
| 22 | Union County | 19.3 | Very Low |
| 23 | Catron County | 16.7 | Very Low |
| 24 | Valencia County | 16.2 | Very Low |
| 25 | Torrance County | 14.6 | Very Low |
| 26 | Guadalupe County | 12 | Very Low |
| 27 | Lincoln County | 11.6 | Very Low |
| 28 | Hidalgo County | 11 | Very Low |
| 29 | Mora County | 8.9 | Very Low |
| 30 | De Baca County | 6.9 | Very Low |
| 31 | Los Alamos County | 6.8 | Very Low |
| 32 | Harding County | 5.3 | Very Low |
| 33 | Grant County | 3.6 | 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 New Mexico:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest cold wave risk county in New Mexico?
McKinley County, NM has the highest cold wave risk in New Mexico, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 87.6 out of 100 (rated "Relatively Moderate").
What causes cold wave risk in New Mexico?
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.