Enter any address in Benton County, Arkansas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Benton County, AR. Over the last 30 years, NOAA data shows 128 flash flood events, resulting in 8 fatalities, compared to 14 general flood events with 2 deaths. Recent events include flash flooding on July 17, 2025, caused by slow-moving thunderstorms producing locally heavy rainfall. Another instance of flash flooding occurred on May 19, 2025, as thunderstorms moved across northwestern Arkansas.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A experienced 175 claims with an average payout of $22,193 and an average water depth of 5.9 feet. Properties in Zone X had 90 claims, with an average payout of $33,760 and an average water depth of 5.3 feet. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X, as well as those in Zone X_UNSHADED, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
79 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Benton County, Arkansas has recorded 142 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 128 flash floods and 14 river or area floods. The county has received 25 federal disaster declarations, 5 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1969–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 23, 2026 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 2, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 24, 2024 |
| Hurricane Laura | Hurricane | Aug 26, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 26, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 26, 2015 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Aug 8, 2013 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Associated Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 14, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 19, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 17, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 26, 2024 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Nov 4, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 29, 2022 | 0.00K (2 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Apr 13, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 5, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 5, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 28, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 17, 2021 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — May 19, 2025
Severe thunderstorms developed over central Oklahoma along and ahead of a dry line during the afternoon of the 19th, as an upper level disturbance approached the Southern Plains. These thunderstorms moved northeast off the dry line and across portions of northwestern Arkansas during the evening hours. The atmosphere east of the dry line across northwestern Arkansas became very unstable during t...
Flash Flood — Jul 17, 2025
Thunderstorms developed across northwestern Arkansas during the late evening of the 17th and early morning of the 18th, as a low level jet strengthened across the area, forcing warm, moist and unstable air over a stationary frontal boundary that stretched through the region. Slow-moving thunderstorms that moved repeatedly over the same areas resulted in locally heavy rainfall and some flash flo...
Flood — May 26, 2024
Four to five inches of rain fell across the Sugar Creek basin in northern Benton County on the 26th, most of it between the hours of midnight and 4:30 am. This heavy rainfall resulted in Little Sugar Creek flowing at dangerously high levels. Two people entered the creek for recreational purposes during the afternoon, and were drowned in the usually high and fast currents.
Flash Flood — Nov 4, 2024
Strong to severe thunderstorms developed into and across northwestern Arkansas during the afternoon of the 4th, in an unseasonably moist and unstable air mass ahead of an approaching cold front. The atmosphere became very unstable ahead of the thunderstorms. The deep-layer and low-level wind shear strengthened during the afternoon, in response to a strong storm system translating into the South...
Flash Flood — Aug 29, 2022
Scattered thunderstorms developed across northwestern Arkansas during the afternoon and evening of the 29th. The atmosphere across the region became very unstable by the afternoon, promoting a few intense thunderstorms. The strongest storms that developed produced damaging outflow wind gusts. Additionally, locally heavy rainfall in Benton County resulted in some flooding, in which two people dr...
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 Benton County, Arkansas:
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 Benton County, Arkansas 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.