Enter any address in Imperial County, California to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms dominates the flood risk in Imperial County, California, accounting for 102 events and 2 deaths over the last 30 years alongside 16 standard flood events.
Recent weather events illustrate this hazard. On June 3, 2025, low pressure from the eastern Pacific combined with abundant low-level moisture to produce heavy rainfall exceeding one inch in under an hour along Fish Creek Wash in west-central Imperial County, resulting in flash flooding. Later that year on August 25, 2025, a moist and unstable environment fueled by a subtropical ridge and Pacific trough produced conditions primed for strong thunderstorms with precipitable water values climbing to 1.8 to 2.0 inches.
Homeowners and real estate agents should pay the most attention to properties in unmapped or poorly defined areas, as the National Flood Insurance Program data shows the highest claim volume in Zone UNKNOWN with 63 claims averaging an $8,325 payout and an average recorded water depth of 3 inches. Properties in Zone A also require close attention, accounting for 31 claims with an average payout of $8,859 and an average water depth of 2 inches.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
104 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Imperial County, California has recorded 118 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 102 flash floods and 16 river or area floods. The county has received 15 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 (1976–2023)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Hilary | Hurricane | Aug 19, 2023 |
| 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 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Earthquake | Earthquake | Apr 4, 2010 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Debris And Mud Flows | Severe Storm | Jan 17, 2010 |
| Severe Freeze | Freezing | Jan 11, 2007 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding Landslides, Mud Flow | Severe Storm | Feb 13, 1995 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Sep 27, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 27, 2025 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 25, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 25, 2025 | 2.50M |
| Flash Flood | Sep 22, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 18, 2025 | 30.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 18, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 3, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 22, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 22, 2024 | 0.50K |
Flash Flood — Sep 27, 2025
An upper-level low situated over southern CA provided strong upper-level forcing for ascent across the area. Cold 500 mb temperatures of -12 to -13 degrees Celsius and steep lapse rates led to moderate instability values with MLCAPE peaking close to 1000 J/kg. The combination of the upper-level forcing and moderate instability led to the development of strong thunderstorms across the southeaste...
Flash Flood — Aug 25, 2025
The environment across southeast California on August 25th was primed for strong to severe thunderstorms with very moist and unstable conditions in place. The synoptic pattern featured a subtropical ridge of high pressure centered over northern New Mexico, while a Pacific trough to the west promoted upper level divergence over the region. These synoptic features also allowed for southerly moist...
Flash Flood — Sep 22, 2025
Upper-level divergence from an Upper-level trough off the southern CA coast led to the development of a southwest to northeast oriented rain band across the eastern half of Imperial County. Although rainfall intensity for the most part was light to moderate, precipitable water values ranging between 1.5-1.8 supported pockets of heavier rainfall rates with areas across southeastern Imperial Cou...
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 rising to 1.5 on the 17th and upwards of 1.8-2.0 on the 18th. Thunderstorms on the 17th were concentrated mainly across the higher terrain areas of southeast CA, mainly across the Chocolate Mountains, while on the 18th, the activity was more wi...
Flash Flood — Jun 3, 2025
An area of low pressure that moved in from the eastern Pacific combined with abundant low-level moisture with precipitable water values exceeding 1, which is near record levels for early June, to result in pockets of showers and thunderstorms across portions of southeast CA during the afternoon and evening hours on the 3rd. An area of heavy rainfall developed along west-central Imperial County ...
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 Imperial 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 Imperial County, California that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with a mortgage from a federally regulated or insured lender, or a federally backed loan, 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.