Enter any address in Cross County, Arkansas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Cross County, AR. Between 2004 and 2024, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 11 flash flood events and 4 flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding on May 22, 2024, caused by a decaying mesoscale convective system, and extensive flooding on February 11, 2019, from a slow-moving storm system.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $43,975 and an average water depth of 3.8 feet. However, properties in Zone X, though fewer in number, have seen significantly higher average payouts of $92,825 with an average water depth of 7.0 feet. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X, as well as those in Zone X_Shaded and Zone Unknown, should pay close 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.
Cross County, Arkansas has recorded 15 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 11 flash floods and 4 river or area floods. The county has received 24 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 (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 And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Mar 31, 2023 |
| 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, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 30, 2013 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Associated Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 14, 2011 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Oct 29, 2009 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 22, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 23, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 11, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 13, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 31, 2013 | 914.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 17, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2011 | 200.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Jul 12, 2010 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 30, 2009 | 161.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 14, 2009 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — May 22, 2024
A decaying MCS/MCV moved through the Mid-South during the overnight/early morning hours of May 22. A slow moving cold front was stretched over the Missouri Bootheel and moisture surged northward allowing for plentiful instability. This instability collided with remnant outflow boundaries from previous convection. Peak diurnal heating hours, moisture, and enough lift caused damaging winds, large...
Flash Flood — Feb 23, 2019
A strong cold front produced training of thunderstorms that led to flash flooding across portions of northeast Arkansas during the late morning and early evening hours of February 23rd.
Flood — Feb 11, 2019
A slow moving storm system in the Lower Mississippi Valley produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding, extensive areal and river flooding of adjacent areas over portions of northeast Arkansas on February 11th.
Flood — Mar 13, 2015
Subtropical moisture streamed north in advance of an upper level low pressure system. The ground was already saturated due to the melting of snow and ice from an earlier winter storm along with recent rainfall. Showers and isolated thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall across the area on March 12th and 13th resulting in flooding across parts of East Central Arkansas and Northwest Tennessee.
Flash Flood — May 31, 2013
An mesoscale convective system developed over Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas and pushed across Northeast Arkansas into West Tennessee during the early morning hours of May 31, 2013. A few severe storms produced damaging winds and flash flooding. A couple of weak tornadoes also occurred.
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 Cross 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 Cross 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.