Massachusetts winter weather risk
Hampden County has the highest winter weather risk in Massachusetts, scoring 84.3 out of 100 — rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hampden County | 84.3 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 2 | Middlesex County | 67.2 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 3 | Worcester County | 64.4 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 4 | Berkshire County | 58.4 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 5 | Franklin County | 51.7 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 6 | Norfolk County | 49.2 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 7 | Hampshire County | 46.5 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 8 | Essex County | 46 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 9 | Suffolk County | 44.1 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 10 | Bristol County | 43.5 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 11 | Plymouth County | 39.7 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 12 | Barnstable County | 24.8 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 13 | Dukes County | 2.9 | Very Low | 0 |
| 14 | Nantucket County | 1.9 | 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.
Winter Weather risk nationally:
Other hazard risks in Massachusetts:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest winter weather risk county in Massachusetts?
Hampden County, MA has the highest winter weather risk in Massachusetts, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 84.3 out of 100 (rated "Relatively Moderate").
What causes winter weather risk in Massachusetts?
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.