Enter any address in Butte County, California to see its FEMA flood zone
River and roadway flooding from heavy rainfall events are the dominant flood character in Butte County. Between 2004 and 2024, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 97 flood events and 9 flash flood events. For example, a strong winter storm in February 2025 brought multiple feet of snow in the mountains and 2 to 5 inches of rain to the Valley and foothills, resulting in numerous reports of flooding, search and rescue efforts, and prolonged road closures, including portions of Highway 99. Another event in February 2025, associated with a warm atmospheric river, brought 3 to 6 inches of rain to the northern Sacramento Valley and foothills, leading to flooded roads.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $21,680 and an average water depth of 1.6 feet. While Zone X has fewer claims, the average payout is higher at $22,103, with an average water depth of 0.9 feet. Properties in Zone X_SHADED have seen significantly higher average payouts, reaching $119,969 with an average water depth of 12.7 feet, though with only three claims recorded. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, Zone X, and particularly Zone X_SHADED, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
46 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Butte County, California has recorded 106 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 9 flash floods and 97 river or area floods. The county has received 39 federal disaster declarations, 7 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1964–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Park Fire | Fire | Jul 24, 2024 |
| Thompson Fire | Fire | Jul 2, 2024 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Jan 31, 2024 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Mar 9, 2023 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Feb 21, 2023 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Dec 27, 2022 |
| Bear Fire | Fire | Aug 17, 2020 |
| Wildfires | Fire | Aug 14, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Dec 25, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 22, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 21, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Nov 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 6, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 4, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 4, 2025 | 35.00K |
| Flood | Feb 3, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 2, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 24, 2024 | 0.00K |
Flood — Dec 25, 2025
A prolonged period of wet weather brought heavy snowfall and strong winds to the Sierra Nevada. Heaviest snowfall was observed from 12/24-12/26 when snow levels came down below the mountain passes. Snowfall measurements over the 12/24-12/26 timeframe were around 2-5 ft per Caltrans, Ski resorts, and UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab. Southerly wind gusts of 50-80 mph were observed as well acr...
Flood — Dec 22, 2025
A series of atmospheric rivers brought moderate to heavy precipitation to interior northern California in the third week of December through the Christmas holiday. A Convergence Zone set up over Redding/Shasta County around 1 PM on Sunday, December 21. Heavy rain fell until around 7 PM, where there was a lull before another line redeveloped and brought additional moderate to heavy rain into the...
Flood — Dec 21, 2025
A series of atmospheric rivers brought moderate to heavy precipitation to interior northern California in the third week of December through the Christmas holiday. A Convergence Zone set up over Redding/Shasta County around 1 PM on Sunday, December 21. Heavy rain fell until around 7 PM, where there was a lull before another line redeveloped and brought additional moderate to heavy rain into the...
Flood — Nov 13, 2025
An Atmospheric River in the middle of November brought light mountain snow, widespread rainfall with roadway flooding, gusty winds, and thunderstorms from November 12th through November 14th. Around 1 to 4 inches of rain were observed across interior northern California over this 48 hour period. Gusty southerly winds of 25 to 65 mph were also observed as well. 4 to 12 inches of snow was estimat...
Flood — Feb 6, 2025
A cold winter storm system brought another round of heavy snow, rain, rock slides and gusty winds from February 6th through February 7th. Generally 4 to 12 inches were observed above 3000 feet in Shasta County and the Coast Range and above 5000 feet in the Sierra and Southern Cascades, with up to 18 inches at the higher peaks. Interstate 5 closed for about 4 hours at Pollard Flat due to heavy s...
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 Butte County, California:
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 Butte County, California 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.