Enter any address in La Paz County, Arizona to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms dominates La Paz County's flood risk. Between 2015 and 2045, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 125 flash flood events, resulting in 2 fatalities, alongside 8 general flood events. For example, heavy rainfall associated with a tropical system remnant contributed to flash flooding on June 4, 2025, and another event on September 18, 2025, was fueled by the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Mario, bringing significant moisture and efficient rain production.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data from La Paz County shows that properties with unknown flood zone designations accounted for the highest number of claims (46) and the second-highest average payout ($8,367). Zone X_UNSHADED also saw a notable number of claims (25) with a higher average payout ($15,038) and water depth (1.2 ft) compared to Zone A. Residents in areas with unknown flood designations, or those in Zone X_UNSHADED, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
98 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
La Paz County, Arizona has recorded 133 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 125 flash floods and 8 river or area floods. The county has received 7 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 (1983–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Sep 7, 2014 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jan 18, 2010 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Oct 21, 2000 |
| Flooding | Flood | Jun 16, 1983 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Sep 18, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 4, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 2, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 6, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 2, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 2, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 2, 2023 | 15.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 28, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 26, 2022 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Sep 18, 2025
The combination of an upper-level low off the CA coast and the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Mario resulted in a significant moisture increase with PWATs increasing upwards of 1.8-2.0 across most of southwest AZ. The aforementioned features also provided strong upper-level forcing to result in widespread showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon hours. With MLCAPE values maxing out at 1500...
Flash Flood — Aug 15, 2025
The combination of an upper-level trough situated across the west coast and the subtropical high pressure situated over the Central Plains resulted in a south to southwest flow across the region. The combination of 500 mb temperatures near -8C and PWATs ranging between 1.3-1.5 inches resulted in MLCAPE values in excess of 1000 J/KG. A Mesoscale Convective Complex moving northward from Mexico tr...
Flash Flood — Jun 4, 2025
Remnant moisture plume from a tropical system with precipitable water values between 1.0-1.4, which for early June is near record levels, combined with a series of low pressure systems that affected the Desert Southwest to result in periods of showers and thunderstorms between June 1-4. The first round of rainfall activity was observed across south-central AZ during the overnight hours of June ...
Flash Flood — Jul 2, 2025
The combination of the subtropical high over the Four Corners/Rockies and an area of low pressure near the southern CA coastline resulted in a modest southeasterly flow that advected modest amounts of moisture across much of central and southern AZ. With the moisture advection, PWAT values increased upwards of 1.3-1.5. This moisture quantity in combination with strong daytime heating led to mod...
Flood — Feb 6, 2024
An upper-level trough moving across the Desert Southwest transported well-above normal moisture across the region with PWATs peaking at between 0.8-1 across southwestern AZ. The combination of the forcing for ascent from the trough and the abundant moisture resulted in waves of showers throughout the day, with some areas in southwest AZ observing rainfall amounts upwards of an inch over a 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 La Paz County, Arizona:
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 La Paz County, Arizona 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.