Maine winter weather risk

16 counties scored 5 rated Very High

Penobscot County has the highest winter weather risk in Maine, scoring 99.7 out of 100 — rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.

# County NRI score Rating NOAA events
2016–2026
1 Penobscot County 99.7 Very High 0
2 Aroostook County 99.2 Very High 0
3 Cumberland County 99 Very High 0
4 Kennebec County 97.6 Very High 0
5 Androscoggin County 96.5 Very High 0
6 Waldo County 96.2 Relatively High 0
7 Hancock County 95.6 Relatively High 0
8 Oxford County 94.9 Relatively High 0
9 Somerset County 94.9 Relatively High 0
10 Washington County 94.5 Relatively High 0
11 Lincoln County 90.9 Relatively High 0
12 Knox County 90.5 Relatively High 0
13 Piscataquis County 89.2 Relatively High 0
14 Franklin County 88.1 Relatively High 0
15 Sagadahoc County 81.6 Relatively Moderate 0
16 York County 67.5 Relatively Moderate 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.

Winter Weather risk nationally:

Other hazard risks in Maine:

Frequently asked questions

What is the highest winter weather risk county in Maine?

Penobscot County, ME has the highest winter weather risk in Maine, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 99.7 out of 100 (rated "Very High").

How many counties in Maine are rated Very High for winter weather risk?

5 of 16 scored Maine counties are rated "Very High" for winter weather risk by FEMA's National Risk Index.

What causes winter weather risk in Maine?

Winter weather risk captures expected losses from heavy snow, blizzards, and mixed precipitation. Highest scores appear in the Great Lakes snowbelt, northern Rockies, and interior Northeast, where lake-effect and orographic snowfall is frequent. Winter weather impacts transportation networks, utilities, agriculture, and population health.