Enter any address in Pitkin County, Colorado to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from rapid snowmelt and ice jams is the dominant flood character in Pitkin County. Recent events illustrate this, including accelerated snowmelt causing high flows on drainages and the Roaring Fork River in May and June 2023, which compromised trails and damaged roads. An ice jam on the Roaring Fork River in February 2022 also led to minor flooding.
Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A or Zone X_UNSHADED may face higher risks. NFIP claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced significant average payouts, while a single claim in Zone X_UNSHADED indicated a substantial water depth. Residents located near rivers and drainages should pay particular attention to potential flood hazards.
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.
Pitkin County, Colorado has recorded 32 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 25 flash floods and 7 river or area floods. The county has received 6 federal disaster declarations, 2 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1977–2020)
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 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | May 29, 2023 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flood | May 5, 2023 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Jun 2, 2023 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 13, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 11, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 1, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 22, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 13, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 3, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 31, 2014 | 0.00K |
Flood — May 29, 2023
Accelerated snowmelt from a near-record snowpack due to above normal temperatures produced high and fast flow on the Roaring Fork River. One such area was between Wingo and Snowmass, Colorado, where an individual drowned after accidentally falling into the river.
Flood — May 5, 2023
Accelerated snowmelt from a near-record snowpack due to above normal temperatures produced high and fast flow on drainages in Pitkin and Gunnison counties. As a result, flooding compromised various trails in Pitkin County as well as a ranch along East River in Gunnison County.
Flood — Jun 2, 2023
Accelerated snowmelt from a near-record snowpack due to above normal temperatures and precipitation produced high and fast flow on drainages in several west-central counties. As a result, flooding led to some damage on some roads in Pitkin County.
Flash Flood — Jan 13, 2022
A period of cold temperatures caused an ice jam to form on the Roaring Fork River in portions of Pitkin County. Minor flooding occurred along the river with elevated river flows peaking during the early to mid afternoon hours.
Flash Flood — Mar 11, 2022
A period of cold temperatures caused an ice jam to form on the Roaring Fork River in portions of Pitkin County. Minor flooding occurred along the river with elevated river flows peaking during the late morning hours.
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 Pitkin 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 Pitkin 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.