Enter any address in Jefferson County, Colorado to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Jefferson County. Over the last 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 35 flash flood events and 9 flood events, resulting in 3 fatalities. Recent events include flash flooding in July 2019, which caused significant issues on I-25 near 6th Avenue and tragically resulted in a drowning in Lakewood. In August 2023, heavy rainfall led to minor flooding between Pine and Buffalo Creek in southern Jefferson County, with flash flooding also observed along County Road 44H in Buckhorn Canyon.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows a mix of flood zones. Zone A, typically areas with higher flood risk, had 183 claims with an average payout of $4,097 and an average water depth of 2.8 feet. Zone X, generally considered moderate to low flood risk, had 110 claims with a higher average payout of $11,045 and an average water depth of 7.1 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X and X_UNSHADED, should pay close attention to flood risk, as claims data indicates potential for significant water depth and financial impact across various flood zones.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
8 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Jefferson County, Colorado has recorded 44 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 35 flash floods and 9 river or area floods. The county has received 15 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 (1969–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Quarry Fire | Fire | Aug 1, 2024 |
| 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 |
| Lower North Fork Fire | Fire | Mar 26, 2012 |
| Indian Gulch Fire | Fire | Mar 21, 2011 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Dec 18, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Coastal Storm | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Mar 17, 2003 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 31, 2023 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Aug 1, 2023 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 20, 2019 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Jul 20, 2019 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Jun 14, 2015 | 15.00K |
| Flood | May 9, 2015 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 7, 2014 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 14, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 12, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 12, 2013 | 6.00M |
Flash Flood — Jul 31, 2023
Severe thunderstorms produced heavy rain, large hail and damaging wind across parts of Boulder, Denver, Elbert, Larimer and Weld counties. One tornado touched down briefly near Carr, but no damage was observed. Hail up to half dollar size was observed, along with peak wind gusts around 60 mph. Heavy rainfall, up to 3.64 inches, produced flooding and flash flooding around Fort Collins and Li...
Flood — Aug 1, 2023
Severe thunderstorms produced hail up to half dollar size and wind gusts around 60 mph across parts of Jefferson, Morgan. Washington and Weld counties. In addition, localized flash flooding occurred in the the Cameron Peak burn scar. Flash flooding was observed |along the lower part of County Road 44H in Buckhorn Canyon , and on County Road 43 at Streamside Road east of Glen Haven. Heavy ra...
Flash Flood — Jul 20, 2019
A severe thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 60 mph at Centennial Airport. A thunderstorm produced a flash flood in southern Jefferson and southwest Denver counties. The flooding was particularly bad on southbound I-25 near 6th Avenue. One woman was rescued by a passerby in Lakewood when floodwaters began pouring into her car near Casa Bonita. A homeless woman drowned near West 12th Avenue ...
Flood — Jun 14, 2015
Severe thunderstorms produced large hail up to golfball size. The combination of heavy rain and snowmelt also produced a prolonged period of flooding over southern Jefferson and southwestern Douglas County.
Flood — May 9, 2015
Areal flooding developed along the Cache La Poudre and South Platte River Basins as a combination of heavy rainfall and spring runoff unundated the region. The Cache La Poudre reached flood stage from the 10th the the 14th. The South Platte rose above flood stage at Kersey from the 9th to the 15th. A few landslides were initially reported along the Saint Vrain River with minor flooding south...
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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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.