West Virginia cold wave risk
McDowell County has the highest cold wave risk in West Virginia, scoring 92.8 out of 100 — rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McDowell County | 92.8 | Relatively High |
| 2 | Nicholas County | 89.9 | Relatively High |
| 3 | Greenbrier County | 89.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| 4 | Mercer County | 80.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| 5 | Wyoming County | 76.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| 6 | Summers County | 76.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| 7 | Monroe County | 67.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| 8 | Logan County | 62.4 | Relatively Low |
| 9 | Webster County | 61.8 | Relatively Low |
| 10 | Mingo County | 56 | Relatively Low |
| 11 | Raleigh County | 49.8 | Relatively Low |
| 12 | Pocahontas County | 48.8 | Relatively Low |
| 13 | Upshur County | 44.6 | Relatively Low |
| 14 | Hardy County | 35.1 | Relatively Low |
| 15 | Braxton County | 34.5 | Relatively Low |
| 16 | Kanawha County | 32.2 | Relatively Low |
| 17 | Lewis County | 31.9 | Relatively Low |
| 18 | Lincoln County | 31.4 | Relatively Low |
| 19 | Grant County | 28.4 | Relatively Low |
| 20 | Jackson County | 28 | Relatively Low |
| 21 | Pendleton County | 27.4 | Relatively Low |
| 22 | Roane County | 26.7 | Relatively Low |
| 23 | Fayette County | 26.1 | Relatively Low |
| 24 | Cabell County | 25.6 | Relatively Low |
| 25 | Monongalia County | 23.1 | Very Low |
| 26 | Mason County | 22.9 | Very Low |
| 27 | Wayne County | 22.8 | Very Low |
| 28 | Barbour County | 21.5 | Very Low |
| 29 | Tucker County | 20.4 | Very Low |
| 30 | Wetzel County | 19.5 | Very Low |
| 31 | Randolph County | 18.4 | Very Low |
| 32 | Calhoun County | 17.5 | Very Low |
| 33 | Preston County | 17.4 | Very Low |
| 34 | Harrison County | 17.3 | Very Low |
| 35 | Marion County | 17 | Very Low |
| 36 | Wood County | 16.1 | Very Low |
| 37 | Berkeley County | 14.8 | Very Low |
| 38 | Putnam County | 14.3 | Very Low |
| 39 | Mineral County | 14 | Very Low |
| 40 | Gilmer County | 13.8 | Very Low |
| 41 | Morgan County | 13.7 | Very Low |
| 42 | Tyler County | 13.7 | Very Low |
| 43 | Boone County | 13.5 | Very Low |
| 44 | Ritchie County | 13.4 | Very Low |
| 45 | Hampshire County | 13 | Very Low |
| 46 | Jefferson County | 12.8 | Very Low |
| 47 | Pleasants County | 11.8 | Very Low |
| 48 | Marshall County | 11.5 | Very Low |
| 49 | Ohio County | 6.7 | Very Low |
| 50 | Hancock County | 6.3 | Very Low |
| 51 | Taylor County | 6.3 | Very Low |
| 52 | Clay County | 6.2 | Very Low |
| 53 | Brooke County | 5.5 | Very Low |
| 54 | Doddridge County | 5.3 | Very Low |
| 55 | Wirt County | 4.6 | 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 West Virginia:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest cold wave risk county in West Virginia?
McDowell County, WV has the highest cold wave risk in West Virginia, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 92.8 out of 100 (rated "Relatively High").
What causes cold wave risk in West Virginia?
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.