Enter any address in Yuma County, Colorado to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Yuma County. Between 1996 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 33 flash flood events and 13 flood events. Recent examples include street and basement flooding in Yuma following heavy rain and hail on May 20, 2024, and flooding across western Yuma County on August 13, 2024, also associated with thunderstorms.
On July 23, 2020, prolonged heavy rainfall over six inches caused flooding in Wray, impacting the Republican River Basin. Another event on July 29, 2022, saw nearly three inches of rainfall lead to water flowing over Highway 385.
Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X_Shaded should pay the most attention to flood risk. NFIP claims data shows that while Zone A had one claim with an average payout of $77,727, Zone X_Shaded had one claim with an average payout of $1,848 and an average water depth of 5.0 feet, indicating potential for significant inundation even in areas not mapped as high-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.
Yuma County, Colorado has recorded 46 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 33 flash floods and 13 river or area floods. The county has received 7 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 (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 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Coastal Storm | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Wildfires | Fire | Apr 23, 2002 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Severe Storm | Apr 11, 2001 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 20, 2024 | 2.00K |
| Flood | Aug 13, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 29, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 29, 2020 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 27, 2020 | 2.00K |
| Flood | Jul 23, 2020 | 0.10K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 23, 2020 | 0.10K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 22, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 26, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 2, 2017 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — May 20, 2024
In the late afternoon of the 20th, a cluster of storms began to from in north central Colorado and moved east. As the evening progressed, this cluster grew into more of a line. This line of storms produced up to four inch diameter hail, accumulating hail up to a foot deep, 75 MPH wind gusts, and heavy rain. The combined effect of accumulating hail and heavy rainfall led to street and basement ...
Flood — Aug 13, 2024
Thunderstorms developed across northeast Colorado resulting in quarter size hail and flooding across western Yuma county.
Flood — Jul 29, 2022
A large area of slow moving light to moderate rainfall moved through East Central Colorado during the morning into the early afternoon. A couple rounds of prolonged moderate rainfall moved over eastern Yuma County during this timeframe. Close to three inches of rainfall occurred. The rainfall caused water to flow over Highway 385 almost a half mile north of the Highway 385/36 intersection.
Flash Flood — Aug 29, 2020
Isolated thunderstorms developed in eastern Colorado during the late afternoon hours. One thunderstorm that moved over Yuma, CO produced 0.83 inches of heavy rain in 20 minutes causing flash flooding in town.
Flash Flood — Jun 27, 2020
Storms formed in eastern Colorado organizing into a line as they neared the Kansas border with isolated storms forming to the south of Cheyenne County in Colorado. The line of storms produced thunderstorm wind gusts up to 65 mph and flash flooding.
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 Yuma 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 Yuma 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.