Enter any address in Monroe County, Kentucky to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the primary flood hazard in Monroe County. Between 1994 and 2024, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 17 flash flood events. For example, widespread flash flooding occurred on May 4, 2021, following heavy rains from a cold front that moved over saturated ground. Another significant event on February 28, 2021, brought record rainfall to parts of central Kentucky, contributing to flooding.
While flash flooding is frequent, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has recorded fewer claims in Monroe County. One claim was filed in Zone X, with no reported water depth or financial payout. Homeowners in areas identified as Zone X, and those located near potential flood paths, should pay close attention to flood risk information.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
10 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Monroe County, Kentucky has recorded 19 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 17 flash floods and 2 river or area floods. The county has received 21 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1969–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 23, 2026 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 2, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Apr 2, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides | Severe Storm | Feb 14, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Feb 14, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | May 21, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Mar 3, 2023 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Feb 3, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 28, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 4, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 13, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 23, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 31, 2018 | 10.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Aug 17, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 19, 2010 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 2, 2010 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 11, 2008 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Feb 15, 2025
A strong storm system moved across the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys on February 15th and 16th, 2025, bringing heavy rainfall and flooding, severe weather, and winter weather to central Kentucky. The large scale upper level pattern featured deep troughing ejecting across the central CONUS, with broad southwesterly flow occurring in the low and mid troposphere. Southerly flow helped to draw rich mo...
Flash Flood — Feb 28, 2021
A stalled frontal boundary brought waves of heavy rainfall to central Kentucky from February 26 through February 28. This caused record rainfall, isolated severe winds, and even a tornado. As a result, Bowling Green set a February daily rainfall record with 5.11 on the 28th. The severe winds brought down some trees and a power pole, but the most property damage came from a brief EF1 tornado.
Flash Flood — May 4, 2021
Early on May 3rd, central Kentucky sat in the warm sector ahead of an approaching surface low. Much of the region saw only rain showers, but one isolated cell in southern Kentucky was able to produce a short lived EF-1 tornado in the city of Tompkinsville, KY. ||On May 4th, a cold front, following the first system, produced additional rain showers and thunderstorms on the already saturated grou...
Flash Flood — Aug 13, 2020
During this period, a stationary front extended near the Ohio River. This served as a focus for the development of isolated severe thunderstorms, but the main event was heavy rainfall that broke out during the early morning of August 14th. This rain produced areas of flash flooding in multiple counties.
Flash Flood — Feb 23, 2019
On February 19, 2019, a broad upper trough dipped south to the Gulf of Mexico and carried abundant amounts of moisture towards the Ohio Valley. Once the moisture was transport was underway, isentropic lift caused 1.5 to 3 of rainfall along the Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys. The higher amounts went as far north as south central Indiana.||On the 20th, an upper trough axis and cold front push...
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 Monroe County, Kentucky:
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 Monroe County, Kentucky 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.