Natural Disaster Risk in Carlton

Natural Hazard Profile: Carlton, Minnesota

Carlton, in Carlton County, is a town of roughly 3,111 residents situated in the northern tier of the continental United States. Its continental climate brings some of the harshest winters in the lower 48 and warm summers, and in particular severe blizzards and spring tornado outbreaks. These conditions collectively define the natural hazard environment that Carlton residents and property owners must navigate.

Carlton's overall natural disaster risk is rated 4.9/10 (Moderate) by FEMA's National Risk Index. Cold wave events are the primary hazard risk, driven by periodic invasions of Arctic air that drive wind chills to life-threatening levels and stress heating systems. Secondary hazards include lightning and heat.

Within Minnesota, Carlton's risk is, near the 5.2/10 state average. Nationally, it ranks near the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. FEMA's analysis of Carlton County identifies cold wave as the foremost hazard, followed by lightning and heat. These rankings reflect the relative frequency and severity of each hazard type in the local environment.

Carlton's moderate risk profile means that while catastrophic events are less frequent, they do occur. Standard homeowners insurance typically covers many common hazards here, but confirming that cold wave exposure is adequately protected is a worthwhile step for property owners.