Rhode Island heat wave risk
Providence County has the highest heat wave risk in Rhode Island, scoring 97.2 out of 100 — rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence County | 97.2 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 2 | Kent County | 65.9 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 3 | Washington County | 46.4 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 4 | Newport County | 34.5 | Very Low | 0 |
| 5 | Bristol County | 28.5 | Very Low | 0 |
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 Rhode Island:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest heat wave risk county in Rhode Island?
Providence County, RI has the highest heat wave risk in Rhode Island, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 97.2 out of 100 (rated "Relatively High").
What causes heat wave risk in Rhode Island?
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.