Enter any address in Nez Perce County, Idaho to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms and general flooding from heavy rain and snowmelt are the dominant flood types in Nez Perce County. Recent events include flash flooding in the Lewiston area on June 9, 2023, following a slow-moving thunderstorm that dropped nearly an inch of rain in about an hour. Earlier, on May 4, 2023, a low-pressure system brought thunderstorms and heavy rain, contributing to flooding from snowmelt across North Idaho. In June 2022, slow-moving showers, combined with already high stream levels, caused flooding in low-lying areas.
While most National Flood Insurance Program claims in Nez Perce County have been in Zone X (unshaded) with an average water depth of -2.0 feet, there has been at least one claim in Zone A with an average water depth of 1.0 foot. Homeowners in low-lying areas, properties near streams and creeks, and those without a Base Flood Elevation should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
14 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Nez Perce County, Idaho has recorded 28 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 14 flash floods and 14 river or area floods. The county has received 13 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 (1964–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Gwen Fire | Fire | Jul 25, 2024 |
| Texas Fire | Fire | Jul 15, 2024 |
| Bedrock Fire | Fire | Aug 12, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Mar 31, 2011 |
| Hurricane Katrina | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Heavy Rains And Flooding | Flood | May 6, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud And Landslides | Severe Storm | Nov 16, 1996 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Feb 6, 1996 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 9, 2023 | 1.00M |
| Flood | May 4, 2023 | 2.00K |
| Flood | Jun 12, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 12, 2022 | 20.00K |
| Flood | Jun 12, 2022 | 8.00K |
| Flood | Jun 12, 2022 | 1.00M |
| Flood | Jun 12, 2022 | 750.00K |
| Flood | Jun 12, 2022 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Jun 5, 2022 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Apr 9, 2019 | 2.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 9, 2023
A slow moving thunderstorm moved over the Lewiston Idaho area and caused flash flooding. The KLWS ASOS recorded 0.68 inches of rain from 1250LST to 1356LST. Strong winds also knocked down several trees in Latah County.
Flood — May 4, 2023
A slow moving Low brought several rounds of thunderstorms, heavy rain, and flooding from snow melt across North Idaho.
Flood — Jun 12, 2022
Another trough system brought a round of slow moving stratiform slow moving showers. With the abundant amount of precipitation from earlier in the month, the streams and creeks were already near bank full. The additional 1 inch of precipitation starting to create problems for low lying areas in the Southeast WA and Lower ID Panhandle.
Flood — Jun 5, 2022
Another round widespread stratiform rain showers impacted the Inland Northwest. With the ground already saturated from previous system, the rain began to impact the region quickly with three quarters to an inch of rain.
Flood — Apr 9, 2019
Beginning on April 6th and continuing through April 10th a series of Pacific atmospheric rivers were directed into Oregon, southeast Washington and central Idaho saturating the ground with heavy rainfall. During this 4 day period the COOP station at Kamiah reported 1.86 inches of rain, Elk River reported 2.94 inches of rain, Moscow 3.44 inches, Nez Perce 2.05 inches, Potlatch 2.46 inches, Dwors...
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 Nez Perce County, Idaho:
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 Nez Perce County, Idaho 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.