Enter any address in Siskiyou County, California to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Siskiyou County. Between 2003 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 20 flash flood events and 17 flood events, with one reported fatality. Recent events include flash flooding on Humbug Creek Road in June 2023 following slow-moving thunderstorms, and a debris flow down Humbug Creek in August 2022 after heavy rain impacted the McKinney burn scar, leading to vehicle damage and a rescue. Another August 2022 event involved glacial melt from Mount Shasta contributing to a debris flow down Whitney Creek, causing a highway closure.
Homeowners in Zone A, which has seen the highest number of NFIP claims with substantial average payouts and water depths, should pay particular attention to flood risk. Properties located near creeks and in areas impacted by burn scars, which are prone to debris flows, may also face elevated risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
1 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Siskiyou County, California has recorded 37 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 20 flash floods and 17 river or area floods. The county has received 23 federal disaster declarations, 6 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Hilary | Hurricane | Aug 19, 2023 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Dec 27, 2022 |
| Mill Fire | Fire | Sep 2, 2022 |
| Lava Fire | Fire | Jun 24, 2021 |
| Slater Fire | Fire | Sep 8, 2020 |
| Wildfires | Fire | Sep 4, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Klamathon Fire | Fire | Jul 5, 2018 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Flood | Feb 1, 2017 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 8, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 2, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 10, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 9, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 8, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 21, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 20, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 8, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 7, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 6, 2015 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 8, 2023
Downpours from a slow moving thunderstorm created flash flooding on Humbug Creek Road in north central Siskiyou County. This area is part of the McKinney burn scar.
Flash Flood — Aug 2, 2022
Thunderstorms with very heavy rain moved through an area near the McKinney wildfire in the evening. Rainfall was estimated to be between 1 and 3 inches in an hour. This created a debris flow down Humbug Creek, on the eastern edge of the fire. Four vehicles were reported swept off a culvert over Humbug Creek, and videos showed the swiftly rising water in the area. One person had to be rescued...
Flash Flood — Aug 2, 2022
Heavy convective precipitation combined with glacial melt from the Whitney Glacier on Mount Shasta to create a debris flow down Whitney Creek, downstream from the Lava Fire scar. This resulted in the closure of US97 between 1700 PDT and 2100 PDT.
Flood — Feb 10, 2017
Heavy rain combined with snow melt led to flooding in Siskiyou county in northern California.
Flood — Feb 9, 2017
Heavy rain combined with snow melt caused flooding along the Klamath River in northern California.
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 Siskiyou 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 Siskiyou 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.