Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Norton County, Kansas. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Flash flooding from severe summer thunderstorms dominates the flood risk profile in Norton County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA records show nine flash flood events resulting in one death, alongside six general flood events.
Recent weather data illustrates these hazards. On May 28, 2023, severe thunderstorms brought torrential rainfall that caused flash flooding and forced local law enforcement to perform a water rescue. Later that year on August 25, 2023, another cluster of storms produced torrential rainfall in Norton, causing water to flow into a residence's basement and a business in downtown.
Homeowners, real estate agents, and journalists should pay the closest attention to properties vulnerable to sudden, intense stormwater accumulation, particularly lower-level spaces like basements and downtown commercial properties located in areas susceptible to rapid runoff from severe storm systems.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
7 NOAA storm reports from Norton County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Kansas flood stories →
13 federal disaster declarations since 2005.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, And Wildfires | Mar 14, 2025 |
| Severe Storms And Straight Line Winds | Dec 15, 2021 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Apr 28, 2017 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Sep 2, 2016 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Jun 7, 2010 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm | Dec 22, 2009 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding And Tornadoes | May 22, 2008 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Dec 6, 2007 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
15 since 1996: 9 flash floods and 6 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Apr 25, 2024 | — |
| Flash Flood | May 28, 2023 | $5,000 |
| Flash Flood | Aug 25, 2023 | — |
| Flood | Jul 22, 2023 | — |
| Flood | Sep 4, 2016 | — |
| Flash Flood | Sep 3, 2016 | — · 1 killed |
| Flood | May 24, 2014 | — |
| Flood | Oct 8, 2011 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flood · Apr 25, 2024. In the early afternoon of the 25th, multiple storms formed in northwestern Kansas and moved north-northeast. There were multiple clusters, or waves, of storms throughout the afternoon to overnight hours. These storms produced 3 inch diameter hail, 70 MPH thunderstorm wind gusts, and a tornado.
Flash Flood · May 28, 2023. During the evening of May 28th, severe thunderstorms developed within Northwestern Kansas. These thunderstorms produced hail up to golf balls in size as well as torrential rainfall that resulted in flash flooding. Local law enforcement had to perform one water rescue due to the flood conditions.
Flash Flood · Aug 25, 2023. A cluster of thunderstorms moved east across Northwest Kansas. Hail up to golf ball size and wind gusts up to 70 MPH were reported with these storms. In Norton the torrential rainfall from the storm activity caused water to flow into a residence's basement and a business in downtown.
Flood · Jul 22, 2023. In the afternoon of the 22nd, multiple supercells formed across eastern Colorado, southwestern Nebraska, and northwestern Kansas. These storms produced a wind gust over 70 mph and larger than 2 inch hail.
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in Norton County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.