Enter any address in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Tuscaloosa County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 57 flash flood events, resulting in 4 fatalities, alongside 11 general flood events and 4 tropical storm/depression events. Recent examples include localized flooding from slow-moving thunderstorms on April 6, 2025, and street flooding in the Tuscaloosa area due to training thunderstorms on May 10, 2025.
FEMA National Flood Insurance Program claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced 146 claims with an average payout of $13,508 and an average water depth of 1.7 feet. Properties in Zone X, while fewer in number with 50 claims, have shown a higher average payout of $16,448 and a greater average water depth of 4.1 feet. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X, as well as those in areas with unknown flood zone designations, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
18 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Tuscaloosa County, Alabama has recorded 72 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 57 flash floods and 11 river or area floods. The county has received 28 federal disaster declarations, 2 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 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Feb 5, 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, 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 | May 10, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 6, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 9, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 22, 2022 | 0.00K (3 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Feb 17, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 24, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 23, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2021 | 3.35M |
| Flash Flood | Sep 18, 2021 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Jun 11, 2021 | 0.00K |
Flood — May 10, 2025
An upper low positioned over Mississippi brought widespread rain and thunderstorms across the area, generally from south to north. A couple instances of training thunderstorms brought several inches of rain to the Tuscaloosa and Selma areas, resulting in areas of street flooding. One thunderstorm just east of Selma briefly produced quarter-size hail in Burnsville.
Flash Flood — Apr 6, 2025
Deep-layer ridging over the Southeast United States held up a trough over the Central United States for the first few days of April, leading to a prolonged and significant severe weather and flooding event from Texas to Ohio and West Virginia along a stalled boundary. As the ridge began to retreat eastward, a cold front slowly progressed through Central Alabama on April 6, with an all-hazards w...
Flash Flood — May 9, 2023
An outflow boundary from a decaying MCS triggered isolated strong to severe thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours on May 9th. Due to the slow movement of the storms, some localized flooding also occurred.
Flash Flood — Mar 22, 2022
Several supercell thunderstorms developed ahead of a QLCS in advance of a cold front. One supercell produced three weak tornadoes, with another QLCS producing a weak tornado. Training thunderstorms resulted in many instances of flash flooding and river flooding, with three flash flood fatalities occurring in Tuscaloosa County.
Flash Flood — Feb 17, 2022
A highly sheared and dynamic storm system produced numerous strong and severe thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours on February 17th. Several supercells developed along a pre-frontal trough, which produced a few tornadoes. Additionally, several rounds of heavy rain produced some flash flooding along and|north of I-20, and strong gradient winds ahead of the front caused scattered ...
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 Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa 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.