Enter any address in Dubuque County, Iowa to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Dubuque County. Between 2000 and 2020, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 68 flash flood events and 22 general flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding near the Mississippi River in July 2025 due to 2 to 4.50 inches of rain, and flash flooding caused by heavy rain and overflowing creeks in August 2025.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows a variety of flood zones with associated claim payouts and water depths. Zone A had 176 claims with an average payout of $7,794 and an average water depth of 2.3 feet. Zone X_UNSHADED had 8 claims with a significantly higher average payout of $30,234 and an average water depth of 12.2 feet. Homeowners in or near flood-prone areas, particularly those in Zone A or Zone X_UNSHADED, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
33 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Dubuque County, Iowa has recorded 90 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 68 flash floods and 22 river or area floods. The county has received 21 federal disaster declarations, 10 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1965–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Jun 16, 2024 |
| Flooding | Flood | Apr 24, 2023 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 19, 2017 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 27, 2011 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Jun 1, 2010 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 25, 2008 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 19, 2004 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 11, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 10, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 10, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 3, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 4, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 3, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 3, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 22, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 9, 2020 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 11, 2025
On July 11th, a line of severe thunderstorms moved across eastern Iowa and produced damaging straight-line winds, tornadoes and heavy rain. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches fell in a few hours across the Quad Cities, on top of heavy rain from the previous night and caused major flash flooding in Davenport. A Considerable Flash Flood warning was issued at 5:26 PM followed by a Flash Flood Emerge...
Flash Flood — Jul 10, 2025
During the evening of July 10th, a line of thunderstorms developed and moved across eastern Iowa. These storms produced isolated large hail and damaging wind gusts in Johnson and Clinton Counties. Based on a video, an EF-U tornado occurred in Jackson county. These storms also produced heavy rain, mainly along and north of interstate 80. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4.50 inches were reported acros...
Flash Flood — Aug 10, 2025
Multiple rounds of thunderstorms tracked across the area early Sunday August 10th, bringing very heavy rain, frequent lightning, and some localized gusty winds. Rainfall rates over 2/hr on top of saturated ground caused flash flooding with water over roadways and creeks overflowing. Late afternoon and evening storms brought more heavy rain and three brief tornadoes in Lee county in Iowa and Cla...
Flash Flood — Jul 3, 2025
On July 3rd, thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon and into the evening. Some of these storms became severe and produced large hail and damaging winds in Delaware, Dubuque, and Jones Counties. These storms also produced heavy rainfall that led to flash flooding along a creek in a golf course south of Peosta, Iowa.
Flash Flood — Jul 15, 2024
Thunderstorms rapidly developed over northern Iowa during the afternoon and organized into a powerful line of wind producing storms that surged through the Quad Cities and into northern and central Illinois through the evening hours. These storms brought widespread damaging winds up to 100 mph for many locations, extending across eastern Iowa, much of Illinois, and into Indiana. The Storm Pre...
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 Dubuque County, Iowa:
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 Dubuque County, Iowa 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.