Enter any address in Washington County, Colorado to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Washington County. Between 2003 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 24 flash flood events and 5 flood events. Recent examples include a severe weather event on June 21, 2023, which brought torrential rainfall and tornadoes to the region, and another on July 27, 2022, where damaging winds, hail, and heavy rain impacted eastern Washington County.
A levee breach along the South Platte River on June 15, 2015, also caused inundation of farmland in northwest Washington County. Residents in areas prone to flash flooding, particularly those near waterways or in low-lying terrain, should be aware of potential flood risks.
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.
Washington County, Colorado has recorded 29 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 24 flash floods and 5 river or area floods. The county has received 13 federal disaster declarations, 7 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, 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 |
| Wildfires | Fire | Apr 23, 2002 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Severe Storm | Apr 11, 2001 |
| Heavy Rains, Snowmelt And Flooding | Flood | May 23, 1973 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jun 21, 2023 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 21, 2023 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 27, 2022 | 5.00K |
| Flood | Jun 15, 2015 | 5.00M |
| Flash Flood | Jun 11, 2015 | 15.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 29, 2014 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 22, 2014 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 19, 2013 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Sep 15, 2013 | 10.00M |
| Flash Flood | Aug 3, 2013 | 50.00K |
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,...
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,...
Flash Flood — Jul 27, 2022
Severe thunderstorms produced damaging wind and hail, along with torrential rainfall across the I-25 Corridor and Northeast Plains. Areas hardest hit included: eastern Boulder, Douglas, eastern Larimer, Washington and Weld counties. Hail up to tennis ball size (2.5 inches), was observed near Black Hollow Reservoir east of Fort Collins. Elsewhere the hail ranged from quarter to golfball size...
Flood — Jun 15, 2015
A levee breach along the South Platte River inundated farmland across northeast Morgan and northwest Washington Counties. The breach also washed out a Union Pacific railroad tracks with forced the closure of the railroad for several days until repair could be completed.
Flash Flood — Jun 11, 2015
Thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall caused flooding and flash flooding across parts of the Urban Corridor and adjacent plains.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Washington 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 Washington 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.