Enter any address in San Bernardino County, California to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the dominant flood character in San Bernardino County. Between 2003 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 835 flash flood events, resulting in 21 fatalities. In February 2025, a cold Pacific storm combined with an atmospheric river brought heavy rain to the San Bernardino Mountains, with 3-day precipitation totals reaching 4 to 7 inches and hourly rates of 0.5 to 0.9 inches per hour in mountainous areas. This event produced significant debris flows and flash flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A experienced an average of 4.3 feet of water depth with an average payout of $9,402. Properties in Zone D saw an average water depth of 3.3 feet and an average payout of $14,379. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone D, as well as those in Zone X with an average payout of $16,994 and 3.2 feet of water depth, should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
198 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
San Bernardino County, California has recorded 1,000 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 835 flash floods and 162 river or area floods. The county has received 61 federal disaster declarations, 14 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1965–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge Fire | Fire | Sep 10, 2024 |
| Line Fire | Fire | Sep 7, 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, And Mudslides | Flood | Jan 8, 2023 |
| Blue Ridge Fire | Fire | Oct 26, 2020 |
| El Dorado Fire | Fire | Sep 5, 2020 |
| Wildfires | Fire | Sep 4, 2020 |
| Apple Fire | Fire | Aug 2, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Sep 27, 2025 | 2.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 27, 2025 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 27, 2025 | 50.00K |
| Flood | Sep 27, 2025 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 27, 2025 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 26, 2025 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 26, 2025 | 2.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 26, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 26, 2025 | 2.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 26, 2025 | 5.00K |
Flash Flood — Sep 27, 2025
Low pressure moved very slowly east from the eastern Pacific across the Mojave Desert, triggering scattered thunderstorms for a few days. Several storms produced severe weather and flash flooding.
Flood — Sep 27, 2025
Low pressure moved very slowly east from the eastern Pacific across the Mojave Desert, triggering scattered thunderstorms for a few days. Several storms produced severe weather and flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Sep 26, 2025
Low pressure moved very slowly east from the eastern Pacific across the Mojave Desert, triggering scattered thunderstorms for a few days. Several storms produced severe weather and flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Aug 26, 2025
Southeasterly flow advected in monsoon moisture, fueling scattered thunderstorms, some of which produced flash flooding and severe winds.
Flood — Aug 26, 2025
An upper level low combined with monsoonal moisture produced numerous thunderstorms, which resulted in several reports of heavy rainfall, flooding, and severe wind. Most of the impacts occurred on the afternoon of August 25th over the mountains, deserts, and inland valleys.
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 San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino 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.