District of Columbia heat wave risk
District of Columbia has the highest heat wave risk in District of Columbia, scoring 99.2 out of 100 — rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded heat wave events across District of Columbia have decreased 58% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 99.2 | Relatively High | 27 |
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.
Heat Wave risk nationally:
Other hazard risks in District of Columbia:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest heat wave risk county in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia, DC has the highest heat wave risk in District of Columbia, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 99.2 out of 100 (rated "Relatively High").
What causes heat wave risk in District of Columbia?
Heat is consistently the leading cause of weather-related mortality in the US, yet it remains underrepresented in federal disaster declarations relative to its actual impact. High scores reflect a combination of extreme temperature exposure, population vulnerability (elderly, outdoor workers), and limited access to cooling infrastructure.