Enter any address in Wallace County, Kansas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense thunderstorms is the primary flood concern in Wallace County. Over the past 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database has recorded 17 instances of flash flooding and 4 instances of more general flooding. Recent events illustrate this pattern, including flooding in western Wallace County on May 30, 2023, following heavy rainfall, and flooding in Wallace County on June 16, 2023, also attributed to severe thunderstorms producing heavy rain.
Residents in areas identified by FEMA as being at higher risk, such as those within Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), should pay particular attention to flood risk. These zones typically indicate a higher likelihood of experiencing flood events.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
5 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Wallace County, Kansas has recorded 21 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 17 flash floods and 4 river or area floods. The county has received 16 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (2004–2025)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 3, 2025 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, And Wildfires | Severe Storm | Mar 14, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 26, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 14, 2023 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Straight-line Winds | Snowstorm | Mar 17, 2022 |
| Severe Storms And Straight Line Winds | Severe Storm | Dec 15, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,landslides,and Mudslides | Severe Storm | Apr 28, 2019 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Snowstorm | Apr 28, 2017 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | May 30, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 30, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 16, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 11, 2023 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 26, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 23, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 4, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 26, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 8, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 7, 2013 | 0.00K |
Flood — May 30, 2023
Widespread thunderstorm activity occurred over Northwest Kansas during the evening. Hail up to golf ball size was reported at Rexford. Thunderstorm winds moving out ahead of the storm over Cheyenne County caused a localized dust storm on Highway 27. Later in the evening wind gusts up to 59 MPH were reported near Norton. The repeated rounds of rainfall over part of the area led to flooding i...
Flash Flood — May 30, 2023
Widespread thunderstorm activity occurred over Northwest Kansas during the evening. Hail up to golf ball size was reported at Rexford. Thunderstorm winds moving out ahead of the storm over Cheyenne County caused a localized dust storm on Highway 27. Later in the evening wind gusts up to 59 MPH were reported near Norton. The repeated rounds of rainfall over part of the area led to flooding i...
Flood — Jun 16, 2023
In the early afternoon of the 16th, a system of thunderstorms formed in east central Colorado and progressed eastward into Kansas. The severe cells of this system remained about 30 miles south of I-70 until it was near the Oakley area, where it began a northeastward trend. Up to 2 inch diameter hail and a 67 mph wind gust was reported from this system. Multiple reports of 2 inches of rain were ...
Flood — May 11, 2023
A high impact storm system moved across Northwest Kansas. The storm system produced an environment that was favorable for any of the developing thunderstorms to produce a tornado, which led to multiple tornadoes occurring on this day. The strongest tornado was rated an EF-1 which caused damage to the high school in Weskan. ||Otherwise thunderstorms produced hail up to half dollar in size near...
Flash Flood — May 26, 2019
Thunderstorms in northwest Kansas produced a tornado in Thomas County in addition to several reports of hail, strong winds, and flash flooding from heavy rains.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Wallace County, Kansas:
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 Wallace County, Kansas 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.