Vermont cold wave risk
Bennington County has the highest cold wave risk in Vermont, scoring 83.4 out of 100 — rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bennington County | 83.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| 2 | Windham County | 68.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| 3 | Rutland County | 59.2 | Relatively Low |
| 4 | Windsor County | 56.1 | Relatively Low |
| 5 | Caledonia County | 50.4 | Relatively Low |
| 6 | Chittenden County | 49.6 | Relatively Low |
| 7 | Orleans County | 48.1 | Relatively Low |
| 8 | Washington County | 44.9 | Relatively Low |
| 9 | Addison County | 36.4 | Relatively Low |
| 10 | Franklin County | 32.4 | Relatively Low |
| 11 | Orange County | 30.6 | Relatively Low |
| 12 | Lamoille County | 27.2 | Relatively Low |
| 13 | Essex County | 24.2 | Relatively Low |
| 14 | Grand Isle County | 7.4 | 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 Vermont:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest cold wave risk county in Vermont?
Bennington County, VT has the highest cold wave risk in Vermont, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 83.4 out of 100 (rated "Relatively Moderate").
What causes cold wave risk in Vermont?
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.