North Dakota cold wave risk
Sioux County has the highest cold wave risk in North Dakota, scoring 97.6 out of 100 — rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sioux County | 97.6 | Relatively High |
| 2 | Burleigh County | 96.9 | Relatively High |
| 3 | Ward County | 95.4 | Relatively High |
| 4 | McIntosh County | 91 | Relatively High |
| 5 | Williams County | 90.6 | Relatively High |
| 6 | Rolette County | 89 | Relatively Moderate |
| 7 | Stutsman County | 88.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| 8 | Cass County | 88.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| 9 | Barnes County | 85.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| 10 | McLean County | 84.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| 11 | Richland County | 83 | Relatively Moderate |
| 12 | Emmons County | 82.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| 13 | Golden Valley County | 82.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| 14 | Benson County | 82.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| 15 | Stark County | 82.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| 16 | Morton County | 80.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| 17 | McKenzie County | 79.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| 18 | Mountrail County | 79.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| 19 | Dickey County | 78 | Relatively Moderate |
| 20 | Grant County | 77.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| 21 | Bottineau County | 76.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| 22 | Logan County | 74.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| 23 | Ramsey County | 74.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| 24 | Grand Forks County | 74 | Relatively Moderate |
| 25 | Wells County | 72.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| 26 | LaMoure County | 72.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| 27 | Cavalier County | 72.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| 28 | Pembina County | 72 | Relatively Moderate |
| 29 | Ransom County | 67.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| 30 | Walsh County | 67.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| 31 | Mercer County | 66.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| 32 | McHenry County | 63.2 | Relatively Low |
| 33 | Foster County | 62.3 | Relatively Low |
| 34 | Sargent County | 61 | Relatively Low |
| 35 | Pierce County | 59.7 | Relatively Low |
| 36 | Nelson County | 57.3 | Relatively Low |
| 37 | Towner County | 57.3 | Relatively Low |
| 38 | Adams County | 56.2 | Relatively Low |
| 39 | Hettinger County | 54.9 | Relatively Low |
| 40 | Divide County | 54.6 | Relatively Low |
| 41 | Bowman County | 52.6 | Relatively Low |
| 42 | Kidder County | 52.2 | Relatively Low |
| 43 | Dunn County | 52.1 | Relatively Low |
| 44 | Griggs County | 51.9 | Relatively Low |
| 45 | Traill County | 50.8 | Relatively Low |
| 46 | Renville County | 49.6 | Relatively Low |
| 47 | Steele County | 45.7 | Relatively Low |
| 48 | Sheridan County | 43.1 | Relatively Low |
| 49 | Eddy County | 42.9 | Relatively Low |
| 50 | Burke County | 41.8 | Relatively Low |
| 51 | Slope County | 32.9 | Relatively Low |
| 52 | Oliver County | 25.5 | Relatively Low |
| 53 | Billings County | 15.7 | 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 North Dakota:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest cold wave risk county in North Dakota?
Sioux County, ND has the highest cold wave risk in North Dakota, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 97.6 out of 100 (rated "Relatively High").
What causes cold wave risk in North Dakota?
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.