Enter any address in Jefferson County, Alabama to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall dominates Jefferson County's flood history, accounting for 143 recorded events and 2 deaths over the last 30 years, alongside 15 general floods, 4 tropical storms, and 3 tropical depressions.
Recent weather data illustrates these recurring hazards. In February 2025, a stalled warm front dropped 3 to 4 inches of rainfall over the Birmingham area, causing overnight minor flooding. Slow-moving thunderstorms on April 6, 2025, produced an all-hazards event with significant flooding from early morning to late afternoon.
National Flood Insurance Program records show significant risk extends beyond high-risk areas. Zone A accounts for 1,676 claims with an average payout of $20,798 and an average recorded water depth of 6 inches. Meanwhile, Zone X properties recorded 632 claims with an average payout of $30,638 and an average water depth of 9 inches. Homeowners and real estate professionals in both designated high-risk zones and moderate-to-low risk Zone X areas should pay close attention to these localized flood hazards.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
49 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Jefferson County, Alabama has recorded 165 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 143 flash floods and 15 river or area floods. The county has received 39 federal disaster declarations, 4 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1970–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Helene | Hurricane | Sep 22, 2024 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Oct 6, 2021 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Mar 25, 2021 |
| Hurricane Sally | Hurricane | Sep 14, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Nate | Hurricane | Oct 6, 2017 |
| Hurricane Irma | Hurricane | Sep 8, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 28, 2014 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jan 22, 2012 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 27, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 20, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 18, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 18, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 12, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 6, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 1, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 28, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 14, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 27, 2025
Thunderstorms from a sea breeze moving northward from the Gulf Coast reached Central Alabama during the overnight and early morning hours of June 26. A microburst occurred in Talladega County, with tree damage reported. During the evening of June 27, thunderstorm activity moved northeastward across Jefferson County, causing wind damage and flooding in Homewood, Irondale, and Trussville, along w...
Flash Flood — Aug 20, 2025
A strong thunderstorm line segment moved south from DeKalb County into Cherokee County during the late afternoon of August 20, producing scattered instances of wind damage across the county, including around Centre, Leesburg, Sand Rock, Cedar Bluff, and Broomtown. Single trees fell onto homes in a couple instances, causing damage. Approximately 2600 power outages were reported to Cherokee Elect...
Flash Flood — May 18, 2025
A cluster of severe thunderstorms developed over south central Arkansas late on May 17 and moved east-southeastward into Central Alabama, arriving shortly after 5 AM CDT. A small MCS feature intensified quickly as it crossed the Mississippi state line into Pickens County. The system moved through Tuscaloosa County, just north of the city of Tuscaloosa, where up to 90 to 100 mph winds resulted i...
Flash Flood — Jun 18, 2025
Diurnal convection over Central Alabama during the afternoons of June 16 and 17 led to several instances of wind damage. One storm in particular caused fairly widespread tree damage across Anniston, Oxford, and Weaver in Calhoun County, with some trees falling on homes, vehicles, or power lines. More afternoon thunderstorms lingered over the Birmingham metro on June 18, causing minor flooding o...
Flood — Feb 12, 2025
Severe weather was anticipated across southern parts of Central Alabama during the late evening of February 12 and into early February 13. As much of Central Alabama remained cool with cloud cover and light rainfall much of the day on February 12, a warm front became stalled over south-central Alabama and struggled to lift northward. Rainfall intensified over the Birmingham and Montgomery areas...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Jefferson County, Alabama:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Jefferson County, Alabama that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with a mortgage from a federally regulated or insured lender, or a federally backed loan, are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.