Enter any address in Los Angeles County, California to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from winter storms is the dominant flood character in Los Angeles County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 210 flash flood events, resulting in 7 deaths. For instance, a late-season winter storm in March 2025 brought rainfall totals up to 4 inches in the mountains and caused flooding. Similarly, powerful winter storms in February 2025 produced heavy rainfall, with up to 8 inches reported in the mountains, leading to numerous reports of flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone X (unshaded) and Zone X have experienced the most claims over the past 30 years. Zone X (unshaded) saw 2228 claims with an average payout of $6,425 and an average water depth of 0.7 feet. Zone X had 1560 claims, with a higher average payout of $10,867 and an average water depth of 3.6 feet. Homeowners in these zones, as well as those in Zone A and Zone V, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
80 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Los Angeles County, California has recorded 225 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 210 flash floods and 14 river or area floods. The county has received 88 federal disaster declarations, 11 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1969–2025)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Canyon Fire | Fire | Aug 7, 2025 |
| Eaton Fire | Fire | Jan 7, 2025 |
| Hurst Fire | Fire | Jan 7, 2025 |
| Palisades Fire | Fire | Jan 7, 2025 |
| Wildfires And Straight-line Winds | Fire | Jan 7, 2025 |
| Franklin Fire | Fire | Dec 10, 2024 |
| Bridge Fire | Fire | Sep 10, 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 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Oct 14, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 14, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 3, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 30, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 21, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 19, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 7, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 5, 2024 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Oct 14, 2025
A strong, early-season, storm brought heavy rain, gusty winds and thunderstorms to the area. With the heavy rainfall, numerous reports of flooding were reported. The thunderstorms resulted in reports of wind damage across the area.
Flood — Oct 14, 2025
A strong, early-season, storm brought heavy rain, gusty winds and thunderstorms to the area. With the heavy rainfall, numerous reports of flooding were reported. The thunderstorms resulted in reports of wind damage across the area.
Flash Flood — Mar 13, 2025
A late-season winter storm brought numerous weather hazards to Southwestern California. Rainfall totals generally ranged between 0.50 and 1.50 inches across coastal areas up to 4 inches in the mountains. Winter storm conditions developed in the mountains with snowfall totals up to 18 inches and southerly wind gusts up to 77 MPH. Thunderstorms, associated with this system, brought some reports ...
Flash Flood — Feb 13, 2025
A powerful winter storm impacted all of Southwestern California. The storm generated strong southerly winds, gusting up to 87 MPH. The storm also produced very heavy rainfall with totals up to 8 inches reported in the mountains along with numerous reports of flooding. Also, thunderstorms associated with the winter storm produced a weak tornado.
Flash Flood — Apr 3, 2025
Strong thunderstorms generated flash flooding across the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 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.