Enter any address in Nevada County, California to see its FEMA flood zone
Flooding from atmospheric rivers and winter storms is the primary flood hazard in Nevada County. Recent events include significant rainfall from an atmospheric river in early February 2025, which caused road flooding and downed trees. Another strong winter storm in mid-February 2025 brought heavy rain and mudslides to mountain and foothill areas, flooding roads.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $17,180 and an average water depth of 3.5 feet. Properties in Zone X also see claims, with an average payout of $13,178 and an average water depth of 2.9 feet. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X, particularly those near waterways or in lower-lying areas, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
21 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Nevada County, California has recorded 46 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 4 flash floods and 42 river or area floods. The county has received 23 federal disaster declarations, 5 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1964–2023)
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, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Dec 27, 2022 |
| Wildfires | Fire | Jul 14, 2021 |
| Jones Fire | Fire | Aug 18, 2020 |
| Wildfires | Fire | Aug 14, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Lobo Fire | Fire | Oct 9, 2017 |
| Wildfires | Fire | Oct 8, 2017 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 27, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 26, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 25, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 22, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 21, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 1, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 5, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 14, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 13, 2023 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Aug 27, 2025
A high amount of atmospheric moisture in the region interacted with a short-wave trough, allowing for widespread heavy precipitation. This was day five of an extended push of monsoon moisture that produced heavy rain, localized flooding, strong outflow winds.
Flash Flood — Aug 26, 2025
A high amount of atmospheric moisture in the region interacted with a short-wave trough, allowing for widespread heavy precipitation. This was day four of an extended push of monsoon moisture that produced heavy rain, localized flooding, strong outflow winds.
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...
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 Nevada 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 Nevada 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.