Enter any address in New Haven County, Connecticut to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense thunderstorms is the most frequent type of flood event in New Haven County, CT. Recent examples include heavy rainfall in July 2025, with totals ranging from 4 to 6.5 inches, and August 2025, when thunderstorms produced 4 to 5 inches of rain. In August 2024, persistent thunderstorms delivered rainfall rates of 3 to 4.5 inches per hour, leading to flash flood emergencies.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $20,012 and an average water depth of 3.1 feet. Zone V properties also see significant claims. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A or V, as well as those in lower-lying areas or without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE), should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
73 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
New Haven County, Connecticut has recorded 199 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 133 flash floods and 35 river or area floods. The county has received 36 federal disaster declarations, 3 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1978–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Hawthorne Fire | Fire | Oct 21, 2024 |
| Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Aug 18, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Aug 18, 2024 |
| Remnants Of Hurricane Ida | Hurricane | Sep 1, 2021 |
| Hurricane Henri | Hurricane | Aug 21, 2021 |
| Tropical Storm Isaias | Hurricane | Aug 4, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Straight-line Winds | Tornado | May 15, 2018 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Severe Storm | Jan 26, 2015 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 22, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 18, 2024 | 0.00K (2 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Aug 18, 2024 | 200.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 18, 2024 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 18, 2024 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 18, 2024 | 20.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Jan 13, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 14, 2025
A weak front approached from the west along with PW of 2 inches resulting in heavy rainfall across the area. 4 to 6.5 inches of rainfall totals were reported with rainfall rates between 1 to 2 inches.
Flash Flood — Aug 13, 2025
Thunderstorms moved across New Haven County, CT producing 1 inch of rainfall an hour. A total of 4 to 5 inches fell across New Haven.
Flash Flood — Jun 22, 2024
A stationary front was draped across the area on June 22nd under a warm and moist airmass. PWAT values near 1.8 to 2 inches along with MUCAPE values of 1000 to 1500 J/kg allowed for the development of thunderstorms with heavy rainfall on the order of 1-2 per hour rates. Rainfall totals in southern Connecticut were anywhere from 1- 2 inches.
Flash Flood — Aug 18, 2024
A frontal system over the area on August 18th allowed for the development of rain early in the morning. As the day progressed, mesoscale features including multiple boundary interactions and a mesolow allowed thunderstorms to continue to intensify with persistent back-building and training over the same areas in southern Connecticut. These thunderstorms produced anywhere from 3-4.5 inch per hou...
Coastal Flood — Jan 13, 2024
Strong low pressure shifted northeast through the eastern Great Lakes on January 13, 2024, sending a warm front through during the morning hours, followed quickly by a cold front. Strong winds produced by this system, combined with peaking high astronomical tides associated with a recent new moon, produced widespread moderate coastal flooding along the southern Connecticut coastline.
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 New Haven County, Connecticut:
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 New Haven County, Connecticut 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.