Maine heat wave risk
Cumberland County has the highest heat wave risk in Maine, scoring 59.2 out of 100 — rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded heat wave events across Maine have increased 110% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cumberland County | 59.2 | Relatively Low | 1 |
| 2 | York County | 52.8 | Relatively Low | 1 |
| 3 | Kennebec County | 38.4 | Very Low | 0 |
| 4 | Androscoggin County | 36.3 | Very Low | 1 |
| 5 | Penobscot County | 36.1 | Very Low | 18 |
| 6 | Oxford County | 32.2 | Very Low | 0 |
| 7 | Somerset County | 20.9 | Very Low | 0 |
| 8 | Waldo County | 19.8 | Very Low | 0 |
| 9 | Franklin County | 15.4 | Very Low | 0 |
| 10 | Aroostook County | 14.7 | Very Low | 9 |
| 11 | Lincoln County | 14.4 | Very Low | 0 |
| 12 | Sagadahoc County | 14.3 | Very Low | 0 |
| 13 | Hancock County | 11.8 | Very Low | 11 |
| 14 | Knox County | 11.5 | Very Low | 0 |
| 15 | Washington County | 10.7 | Very Low | 20 |
| 16 | Piscataquis County | 9.6 | Very Low | 1 |
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 Maine:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest heat wave risk county in Maine?
Cumberland County, ME has the highest heat wave risk in Maine, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 59.2 out of 100 (rated "Relatively Low").
What causes heat wave risk in Maine?
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.