Enter any address in Washington County, Arkansas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Washington County, AR. Over the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 130 flash flood events, resulting in 5 fatalities, compared to 11 general flood events. Recent examples include severe thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall on April 4th and 5th, 2025, and again on May 19th, 2025, driven by atmospheric instability and wind shear.
NFIP claims data indicates that properties in Zone A experienced 218 claims with an average payout of $24,347 and an average water depth of 3.2 feet. Properties in Zone X, though fewer in number of claims (130), had a higher average payout of $38,380 and a significantly greater average water depth of 6.1 feet. Properties in Zone UNKNOWN also saw high average payouts and water depths. Homeowners in Zone A, Zone X, and Zone UNKNOWN, as well as those without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE) determination, should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
68 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Washington County, Arkansas has recorded 141 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 130 flash floods and 11 river or area floods. The county has received 20 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 |
| Hurricane Laura | Hurricane | Aug 26, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Flood | Jun 23, 2019 |
| 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, Tornadoes, And Associated Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 14, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Jan 26, 2009 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 28, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 23, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 19, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 7, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 4, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 13, 2022 | 50.00K |
| Flood | May 5, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 5, 2022 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | May 5, 2022 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 28, 2021 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Aug 28, 2025
Thunderstorms developed across portions of northwestern Arkansas during the morning of the 28th, near a frontal boundary that stretched across the area. The thunderstorms were slow-moving, and some moved repeatedly across the same areas, which resulted in locally heavy rainfall and some flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Sep 23, 2025
Strong to severe thunderstorms developed into northwestern Arkansas from the northwest during the afternoon of the 23rd, and additional thunderstorms developed across the area during the late afternoon and evening as a cold front moved through the region. The strongest storms produced large hail to ping pong ball size and damaging wind gusts. Locally heavy rainfall from these thunderstorms prod...
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...
Flood — Jun 7, 2025
Strong to severe thunderstorms developed during the evening of the 6th over southeast Colorado, southwest Kansas, and the western Oklahoma Panhandle. The storms moved southeast across Oklahoma through the early morning hours of the 7th, evolving into a well-organized squall line by the time they moved into northwestern Arkansas. The line of strong to severe thunderstorms produced a tornado and ...
Flash Flood — Apr 4, 2025
Strong thunderstorms developed across portions of northwestern Arkansas during the early morning hours of the 4th, as lift associated with an approaching upper level disturbance increased north of a stationary front across northeastern Oklahoma and southern Arkansas. Additional rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms occurred across the area during the evening of the 4th, and then again during...
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 Washington 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 Washington 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.