Enter any address in Denver County, Colorado to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Denver County. Between 1993 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 24 flash flood events and 7 flood events. For example, thunderstorms on June 25th, 2023, caused minor flooding with running water reaching 7 inches deep in east Erie, though no damage was reported. More severe conditions occurred on June 29th, 2023, when heavy rain and hail led to flash flooding and road closures in Adams County, stranding numerous vehicles.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone X experienced the most claims (97), with an average payout of $2,162 and an average water depth of 7.9 feet. Zone A also saw significant claims (40), with an average payout of $2,222 and an average water depth of 1.4 feet. Homeowners in or near areas prone to heavy rainfall and rapid runoff, particularly those in Zone X and Zone A, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
11 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Denver County, Colorado has recorded 31 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 24 flash floods and 7 river or area floods. The county has received 11 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 (1965–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | May 4, 2015 |
| 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 |
| Tornadoes, Severe Storms & Flooding | Tornado | Jun 19, 1965 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jun 25, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 20, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 29, 2023 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 29, 2023 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 7, 2022 | 250.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 21, 2019 | 500.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 20, 2019 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 24, 2015 | 75.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 11, 2015 | 15.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 14, 2013 | 0.00K |
Flood — Jun 25, 2025
Thunderstorms formed across the Denver area during the evening hours of June 25th. Heavy rain and small hail were the main threats from the storms. One inch hail was briefly reported in Firestone. The heavy rain caused some low lying areas to see minor flooding (ponding). There was one report of running water along a road in east Erie that reached 7 inches deep. No damage was reported from the ...
Flash Flood — Jul 20, 2024
Widely scattered thunderstorms developed in the afternoon hours of July 20th across the northeastern plains of Colorado, producing a few severe wind gusts. A more prolific storm developed near the Wyoming border and tracked south across the I-25 corridor through the evening hours, producing a swath of severe hail and wind from Fort Collins into the Denver metro.
Flash Flood — Jun 29, 2023
Severe thunderstorms produced large hail, from penny to tennis ball size across parts of Jefferson, Adams, Arapahoe, Denver and Washington counties. The hail along with heavy rain caused flooding and flash flooding problems. In Adams County, widespread hail accumulated up to 6 inches deep on the roadways between Watkins and Bennett, with localized accumulations up to a foot reported. Highway ...
Flash Flood — Aug 7, 2022
Torrential rainfall, up to 2.5 inches in 20 minutes, produced flash flooding in and around the Denver area. The heavy rainfall flooded the underpass at 38th and Blake, as well as Interstate 70, from Brighton Blvd to York St. Denver firefighters rescued 19 people from those locations alone. Floodwaters knocked down a retaining wall in Thornton at 8600 Washington St. Flooding and tree damage ...
Flash Flood — Aug 21, 2019
A severe thunderstorm produced hail up to quarter size in Arapahoe, Denver and Jefferson counties. Heavy rain and flash flooding, close to 2 inches in one hour, also accompanied the nearly stationary storms. In Denver, flash flooding caused several vehicles to be stranded at Martin Luther King Blvd and Dahlia Street. Highway 6 near Federal Blvd also flooded. Standing water up to 3 feet dee...
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 Denver 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 Denver 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.