Heat Risk Tracker

Understanding heat-related health risks using the new HeatRisk tool from the National Weather Service and CDC.

This map shows the forecast risk for heat-related health effects within a 24-hour period for each location in the contiguous United States. Darker shades represent higher risk levels.

Data updates daily at 5am EST

Heat Risk Map
The NWS HeatRisk is an experimental color-numeric-based index that provides a forecast risk of heat-related impacts to occur over a 24-hour period. HeatRisk takes into consideration:
  • How unusual the heat is for the time of the year
  • The duration of the heat including both daytime and nighttime temperatures
  • If those temperatures pose an elevated risk of heat-related impacts based on data from the CDC
Category Risk of Heat-Related Impacts
Green
0		 Little to no risk from expected heat.
Yellow
1		 Minor - This level of heat affects primarily those individuals extremely sensitive to heat, especially when outdoors without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration.
Orange
2		 Moderate - This level of heat affects most individuals sensitive to heat, especially those without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration. Impacts possible in some health systems and in heat-sensitive industries.
Red
3		 Major - This level of heat affects anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration. Impacts likely in some health systems, heat-sensitive industries and infrastructure.
Magenta
4		 Extreme - This level of rare and/or long-duration extreme heat with little to no overnight relief affects anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration. Impacts likely in most health systems, heat-sensitive industries and infrastructure.