Enter any address in Whiteside County, Illinois to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow along the Mississippi and flash flooding from heavy rainfall are the primary flood concerns in Whiteside County. Recent events include significant Mississippi River flooding in April 2023, driven by snowmelt and heavy rains, which impacted numerous homes and businesses. Additionally, localized flash flooding occurred in March 2020 and June 2020 due to intense, rapid rainfall from thunderstorms.
Residents in areas designated as Zone A, Zone X_SHADED, and Zone X_UNSHADED should pay particular attention to flood risk. These zones have experienced the highest number of National Flood Insurance Program claims, with average payouts and water depths indicating substantial flood impacts. Properties in these areas, especially those without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE), may face greater risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
19 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Whiteside County, Illinois has recorded 62 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 23 flash floods and 39 river or area floods. The county has received 14 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 (1965–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Feb 24, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Apr 16, 2013 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 1, 2008 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Flooding | Flood | Apr 18, 2001 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Apr 13, 1993 |
| Blizzards & Snowstorms | Snowstorm | Jan 16, 1979 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jul 7, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 25, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 27, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 27, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 30, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 26, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 4, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 1, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 23, 2018 | 0.00K |
Flood — Jul 7, 2024
Rain that fell during the month of June across Minnesota and Wisconsin caused rises on the Mississippi River, along the Iowa and Illinois border. Additionally, heavy rain that fell locally in July helped to prolong the crest and delay the river falling below flood stage, especially south of the Wapsipinicon, Rock, and Iowa Rivers.
Flood — Apr 25, 2023
Significant flooding occurred on the mainstem Mississippi largely due to the record snowfall this winter in Minnesota and Wisconsin, frozen ground, rapid snowmelt during the middle of April, and saturated soils. Major flooding was observed at all sites along the Mississippi north of Keokuk Iowa and most sites saw one of their top 10 crests on record.|This flooding had numerous impacts, with ma...
Flash Flood — Mar 27, 2020
Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms dropped 1 to 4 inches of rain quickly across parts of Rock Island and Whiteside Counties during the evening of the 27th into the early morning hours of the 28th. Most of the rain fell in a 1 hour period and brought flash flooding to the Quad Cities Metro Area and Prophetstown in southwest Whiteside County.
Flash Flood — Jun 27, 2020
A disturbance moving across the eastern Iowa on the 27th produced slow moving showers and thunderstorms across the area. Many of these storms produced torrential rainfall which caused flash flooding in Whiteside County.
Flood — May 30, 2019
Extensive flooding occurred late May and into June across eastern Iowa, northwest Illinois, and northeast Missouri. The last half of May was very wet with 5-8 inches of rain falling over the region. This combined with saturated soils, brought many rivers above Moderate to Major flood levels. Many climate sites only saw 3 days of no precipitation from May 16th to May 31st. |The Wapsipinicon,...
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 Whiteside County, Illinois:
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 Whiteside County, Illinois 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.