Vermont heat wave risk
Chittenden County has the highest heat wave risk in Vermont, scoring 73.2 out of 100 — rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded heat wave events across Vermont have decreased 32% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chittenden County | 73.2 | Relatively Low | 5 |
| 2 | Windsor County | 70 | Relatively Low | 1 |
| 3 | Washington County | 55.8 | Relatively Low | 2 |
| 4 | Rutland County | 55.5 | Relatively Low | 4 |
| 5 | Addison County | 45.6 | Relatively Low | 4 |
| 6 | Windham County | 38.3 | Very Low | 4 |
| 7 | Franklin County | 37.4 | Very Low | 4 |
| 8 | Orange County | 36.7 | Very Low | 3 |
| 9 | Caledonia County | 27.3 | Very Low | 3 |
| 10 | Bennington County | 27 | Very Low | 17 |
| 11 | Orleans County | 25.4 | Very Low | 2 |
| 12 | Lamoille County | 21.7 | Very Low | 2 |
| 13 | Grand Isle County | 13.7 | Very Low | 4 |
| 14 | Essex County | 12.5 | Very Low | 2 |
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 Vermont:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest heat wave risk county in Vermont?
Chittenden County, VT has the highest heat wave risk in Vermont, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 73.2 out of 100 (rated "Relatively Low").
What causes heat wave risk in Vermont?
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.