Enter any address in Dolores County, Colorado to see its FEMA flood zone
3 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Dolores County, Colorado has recorded 8 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 4 flash floods and 4 river or area floods. The county has received 8 federal disaster declarations, 4 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1970–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Coastal Storm | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Wildfires | Fire | Apr 23, 2002 |
| Severe Storms, Mudslides, Landslides & Flooding | Flood | Jul 27, 1984 |
| Drought | Drought | Jan 29, 1977 |
| Flooding & Landslides | Flood | Jul 6, 1973 |
| Heavy Rains & Flooding | Flood | Sep 22, 1970 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | May 16, 2023 | 2.50K |
| Flood | Apr 12, 2023 | 25.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2023 | 0.50K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 31, 2022 | 0.50K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 25, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 22, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 26, 2010 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 10, 2002 | — |
Flood — May 16, 2023
Accelerated snowmelt from a near-record snowpack due to above normal temperatures produced high and fast flow on drainages in several counties across the Western Slope. As a result, flooding compromised various low-lying roads and areas. This included some lanes along I-70 west of Fruita, Colorado.
Flood — Apr 12, 2023
Above normal temperatures accelerated snowmelt from a near-record snowpack. This resulted in high and fast flows on several rivers and drainages across Western Colorado. The increased runoff and flooding compromised several county roads and bridges across Montezuma, Archuleta, Routt, Delta, Dolores, Montrose, and Moffat counties.
Flood — May 1, 2023
Very warm spring temperatures and an above normal snowpack resulted in excessive runoff leading to mud and debris flows across portions of west-central Colorado, as well as damage due to flooding.
Flash Flood — Jul 31, 2022
Abundant monsoon moisture remained over the Four Corners region. This led to another round of showers and thunderstorms across southwest Colorado. Storms were slow moving and produced heavy rain. One such storm wiped out a portion of the road leading from the El Diente Peak trailhead from flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Jul 25, 2017
Subtropical moisture remained over western Colorado and resulted in numerous showers and thunderstorms, some with heavy rainfall which led to flash flooding.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Dolores 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 Dolores 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.