Enter any address in Jefferson County, Alabama to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe thunderstorms is the most frequent type of flood event in Jefferson County, AL. Between 1996 and 2023, NOAA data recorded 143 flash flood events, alongside 15 general flood events, 4 tropical storms, and 3 tropical depressions. Recent examples include flash flooding on April 6, 2025, caused by slow-moving thunderstorms, and minor flooding on February 12, 2025, following intense rainfall.
FEMA data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced a high volume of National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims, with 1373 claims filed. While Zone X and Zone X_SHADED have fewer claims, they show higher average payouts and water depths. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zones X and X_SHADED, should pay close attention to flood risk.
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 federally backed mortgages 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.