Enter any address in Mono County, California to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense rainfall events is a significant flood character in Mono County. Recent events include flooding in March 2023, where heavy rainfall contributed to increased flood potential for creeks and streams, and a flood event in June 2024 associated with monsoonal moisture and thunderstorms.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $10,875 and an average water depth of 4.8 feet. Zone X_UNSHADED and Zone UNKNOWN also show a notable number of claims. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X_UNSHADED and Zone UNKNOWN, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
5 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Mono County, California has recorded 24 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 10 flash floods and 14 river or area floods. The county has received 14 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 (1969–2023)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 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, And Mudslides | Flood | Jan 8, 2023 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Flood | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Jan 18, 2017 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud And Landslides | Severe Storm | Dec 28, 1996 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jun 25, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 9, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 3, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 6, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 19, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 18, 2015 | 300.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 3, 2013 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 1, 2013 | 40.00K |
| Flood | Jun 28, 2011 | 25.00K |
Flood — Jun 25, 2024
The northern transport of moisture around the periphery of the ridge building over the Great Basin region, along with increased low level convergence ahead of an incoming upper trough, increased the showers and Thunderstorm chances across the Sierra from Mono County to the Lake Tahoe basin as well as east and north across western Nevada. The surge of monsoonal moisture pushed PWAT values upward...
Flood — Mar 9, 2023
Strong, even damaging west-southwest winds increased travel hazards especially to high profile trucks but also increased the danger for destructive avalanches across the region. Snow started at all elevations Thursday evening with snow levels rapidly rising Friday morning. Heavy, wet snow (Sierra Nevada Cement) fell across higher elevation areas as snow levels rose to 7000 feet over the region...
Flood — May 3, 2023
Incoming trough off the Pacific Northwest coast flattened high pressure across the west allowing for increased potential for more widespread showers and thunderstorms through May 21 that continued into the early part of the following week.
Flash Flood — Jul 15, 2022
The western periphery of high-pressure centered over the Four-Corners region contributed to a surge of mid-level moisture into the Sierra and western NV. This pattern increased thunderstorm chances south of US-50 with the primary hazards being gusty/erratic outflow boundary winds to 50 mph, patchy dense blowing dust, lightning, and brief heavy rainfall that caused some flash flooding in Mono an...
Flood — May 6, 2019
A closed upper level low moved into central and southern California the 6th. This low brought forcing and moisture which helped to produce some showers and thunderstorms across parts of the central and northern Sierra Nevada.
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 Mono 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 Mono 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.