Enter any address in Arapahoe County, Colorado to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Arapahoe County. Over the last 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 36 flash flood events and 9 general flood events, resulting in two fatalities. Recent events include localized flooding on August 28, 2025, and a broader flood and flash flood event across the urban corridor from May 12-14, 2023, which brought 4 to 7 inches of rain to the area.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone X, which includes areas with moderate flood risk, have the highest number of claims at 112, with an average payout of $4,289 and an average water depth of 7.3 feet. Properties in Zone A, representing areas with higher flood risk, had 34 claims with an average payout of $10,389 and an average water depth of 3.2 feet. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone X, Zone A, and those without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE) should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
12 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Arapahoe County, Colorado has recorded 45 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 36 flash floods and 9 river or area floods. The county has received 12 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 (1965–2023)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Flood | Jun 8, 2023 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Sep 11, 2013 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Dec 18, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Coastal Storm | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Mar 17, 2003 |
| Wildfires | Fire | Apr 23, 2002 |
| Heavy Rains, Snowmelt And Flooding | Flood | May 23, 1973 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | May 19, 1969 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Aug 28, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 21, 2023 | 50.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flood | May 12, 2023 | 50.00K |
| Flood | Jul 8, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 15, 2022 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 24, 2018 | 500.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flood | Jun 11, 2015 | 15.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 11, 2015 | 15.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 10, 2015 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 9, 2015 | 15.00K |
Flood — Aug 28, 2025
Thunderstorms produced localized heavy rain on the east side of Denver with minor flooding. A supercell thunderstorm produced an 87 mph wind gust in Akron.
Flash Flood — Jun 21, 2023
Long duration severe weather event across the northeast plains, and most of the Denver metropolitan area beginning during the early afternoon hours. Scores of tornadoes occurred across Washington and Logan counties. Several rounds of hail across the Denver metro, with ping pong ball sized hail in downtown, larger hail up to 2 inches in diameter at concert in Red Rocks Amphitheatre. In all,...
Flood — May 12, 2023
A slow moving storm system produced flooding and flash flooding across the urban corridor and northeast plains, with heavy snowfall in the higher mountains of the Front Range. Storm total rainfall during the 3-day event ranged from 4 to 7 inches across the urban corridor and Palmer Divide, with 2 to 5 inches across the plains. Additionally, from 1 to 2 feet of heavy wet snow occurred above 10...
Flood — Jul 8, 2023
Severe thunderstorms produced large hail and intense winds over parts of the urban corridor and northeast plains and included: Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Elbert, Jefferson, Lincoln, Phillips and Weld counties. The hail ranged in size from 1 to 2 inches in diameter, with peak wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph. In addition, heavy rain flooded an underpass along Highway 36, with 3 feet of standing water...
Flash Flood — Aug 15, 2022
Torrential rainfall, up to 2.6 inches was observed from southeast Denver and Aurora, and extended south southwest to Castle Pines, west of Castle Rock and into Roxborough State Park. Most of the rainfall fell in less than 45 minutes. A storm drain at Quincy and Parker was clogged up by rocks that got pulled out from near the sidewalk by running water. Several cars were towed out of the floo...
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 Arapahoe County, Colorado:
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 Arapahoe County, Colorado 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.