Enter any address in St. Clair County, Alabama to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense thunderstorms is the primary flood concern in St. Clair County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 29 flash flood events, alongside other flood types and tropical storm impacts. Recent examples include a flash flood event on July 2, 2023, associated with a moist and unstable summer air mass, and another on January 4, 2023, during a multi-day severe weather outbreak that brought heavy rainfall.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced a significant number of claims, with an average payout of $9,511 and an average water depth of 2.0 feet. Properties in Zone X also show a substantial number of claims, with a higher average payout of $23,785 and an average water depth of 1.4 feet. Notably, a single claim in Zone X_SHADED resulted in a high payout of $54,097 with an average water depth of 3.0 feet. Residents in Zone A, Zone X, and particularly those in Zone X_SHADED, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
12 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
St. Clair County, Alabama has recorded 38 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 29 flash floods and 4 river or area floods. The county has received 30 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 (1973–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Helene | Hurricane | Sep 22, 2024 |
| Hurricane Sally | Hurricane | Sep 14, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Mar 19, 2018 |
| Hurricane Nate | Hurricane | Oct 6, 2017 |
| 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 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 15, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Feb 12, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 4, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 4, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 2, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Nov 30, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 29, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 6, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 10, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 10, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 1, 2015 | 0.00K |
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...
Flash Flood — Jan 4, 2023
A long-duration severe weather event occurred from the late morning hours of Tuesday, January 3rd to the early morning hours of Wednesday, January 4th. Several rounds of rain and thunderstorms impacted Central Alabama, producing tornadoes, damaging straight-line winds, quarter size hail, and flooding.
Flash Flood — Aug 4, 2023
An active northwest upper flow pattern produced several waves of convective storms during the first week of August.
Flash Flood — Jul 2, 2023
An extremely moist and unstable summertime air mass was in place across Alabama on July 1st through July 2nd with excessive heat warnings and heat advisories in effect. PWAT's were also high with values near 2 inches, which produced high values for microburst potential. Several upper short wave troughs rotated around the north side of an upper ridge centered along the Gulf Coast, and triggered ...
Flash Flood — Nov 30, 2022
A very dynamic and deepening low pressure system moved through the Ohio Valley states on November 29-30 with a trailing cold. The air mass across Central Alabama was initially stable during the day on November 29th with surface dewpoints in the 40s and 50s. Instability increased dramatically the evening of the 29th as 60 plus surface dewpoints advected northward into Central Alabama. A QLCS d...
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 St. Clair 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 St. Clair 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.