Enter any address in Marion County, Alabama to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the most common type of flooding in Marion County, AL, with 29 such events recorded in the last 30 years. Recent examples include flash flooding on July 28, 2024, caused by intense rainfall rates of 5-7 inches per hour, and on February 23, 2022, following a line of thunderstorms that produced 2-3 inches of rain.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone X_SHADED and Zone A have experienced significant water depths in past flood events, averaging 24.5 feet and 43.0 feet respectively. Homeowners in these zones, as well as those in Zone X_UNSHADED where average water depth was 3.0 feet, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
11 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Marion County, Alabama has recorded 34 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 29 flash floods and 2 river or area floods. The county has received 26 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Helene | Hurricane | Sep 22, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Mar 24, 2023 |
| Hurricane Sally | Hurricane | Sep 14, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Feb 5, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Feb 19, 2019 |
| Hurricane Irma | Hurricane | Sep 8, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 23, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Apr 27, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 28, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 23, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 31, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 10, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 22, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 25, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 5, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 8, 2012 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 15, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 24, 2010 | 5.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 28, 2024
A deep moisture profile and an increase of deep-layer shear over Central Alabama on July 28 resulted in very efficient rainfall occurring over central and northern parts of the region. Precipitable water values of 2.1 to 2.2 inches aided high instantaneous rain rates, at times on the order of 5-7 in/hr. Sporadic flooding occurred in Marion County during the early afternoon as two rounds of heav...
Flash Flood — Feb 23, 2022
A line of thunderstorms ahead of a slow moving cold front produced periods of heavy rainfall over a several period over the northwest portions of central Alabama. Rainfall totals averaged 2-3 inches.
Flash Flood — Mar 31, 2021
A warm front moved pushed northward into north Central Alabama late on March 30th and into the early morning hours on March 31st. A low pressure area developed along the warm front and tracked from west to east across northern Alabama. This feature pooled instability just south of the front and added just enough shear for some rotating and organized storms. Subsequently, three weak and short-l...
Flash Flood — Feb 10, 2020
Anomalously high PWAT's with values above 1.5 inches and deep southwest flow combined to produce favorable conditions for heavy rainfall across north Alabama. The likelihood of training cells prompted WPC to issue a high risk for excessive rainfall for February 10th. Rainfall totals averaged 2-4 inches across north Alabama with some locations along the|I-20 corridor around 5 inches.
Flood — Feb 22, 2019
A east-west zone of deep moisture across north Alabama on February 22nd was located along the northern periphery of a 500mb ridge across Florida. A digging short wave trough over the Southwest United States produced several downstream impulses which produced localized heavy rainfall across Marion County. On the next day, the upper trough tracked northeast into Texas and produced a band of sever...
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 Marion 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 Marion 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.