Nevada heat wave risk
Clark County has the highest heat wave risk in Nevada, scoring 99.9 out of 100 — rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded heat wave events across Nevada have increased 28% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clark County | 99.9 | Very High | 152 |
| 2 | Nye County | 97.1 | Relatively High | 9 |
| 3 | Lyon County | 67.6 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 4 | Douglas County | 62.3 | Relatively Low | 1 |
| 5 | Washoe County | 58.4 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 6 | Elko County | 55.9 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 7 | Carson City | 54.2 | Relatively Low | 1 |
| 8 | Esmeralda County | 41 | Relatively Low | 9 |
| 9 | Mineral County | 39 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 10 | Humboldt County | 38.8 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 11 | Pershing County | 32.3 | Very Low | 0 |
| 12 | Lander County | 29.1 | Very Low | 0 |
| 13 | Lincoln County | 25.1 | Very Low | 16 |
| 14 | Churchill County | 25 | Very Low | 0 |
| 15 | White Pine County | 20 | Very Low | 0 |
| 16 | Eureka County | 9.6 | Very Low | 0 |
| 17 | Storey County | 6.4 | 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 Nevada:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest heat wave risk county in Nevada?
Clark County, NV has the highest heat wave risk in Nevada, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 99.9 out of 100 (rated "Very High").
How many counties in Nevada are rated Very High for heat wave risk?
1 of 17 scored Nevada counties are rated "Very High" for heat wave risk by FEMA's National Risk Index.
What causes heat wave risk in Nevada?
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.