Enter any address in Winston County, Alabama to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Winston County, Alabama. The county has experienced 18 flash flood events in the last 30 years, according to NOAA Storm Events data. Recent examples include significant rainfall and flooding on April 6, 2025, and periods of heavy rainfall averaging 2-3 inches in the northwest portions of central Alabama on February 23, 2022.
FEMA data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced flood claims with an average payout of $20,021 and an average water depth of 1.2 feet. While Zone X properties have had fewer claims with no reported payout or water depth, homeowners in Zone A, particularly those without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE) designation, should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
4 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Winston County, Alabama has recorded 21 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 18 flash floods. The county has received 25 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 |
| 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 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 15, 2011 |
| Hurricane Gustav | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2008 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Apr 6, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 23, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 25, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 5, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 4, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 11, 2012 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 1, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 24, 2010 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 16, 2009 | 2.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 6, 2009 | 5.00K |
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 — 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 — Dec 25, 2015
A low level boundary across southeast Alabama became the focus for heavy rainfall and severe weather during the early morning hours of December 24th. As the boundary lifted northward, the focus for heavy rainfall and severe weather shifted into north central Alabama.
Flash Flood — Jul 5, 2013
The first week of July 2013 was a wet one as a plume of tropical moisture streamed northward from the Gulf of Mexico, across the southeastern United States, and northeastward along the Appalachians. With a persistent mid level trough to its west and a ridge to its east, this stream of moisture continued for many days. Precipitable water values reached over two inches locally and after several d...
Flash Flood — Jul 4, 2013
The first week of July 2013 was a wet one as a plume of tropical moisture streamed northward from the Gulf of Mexico, across the southeastern United States, and northeastward along the Appalachians. With a persistent mid level trough to its west and a ridge to its east, this stream of moisture continued for many days. Precipitable water values reached over two inches locally and after several 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 Winston 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 Winston 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.