Enter any address in Washington County, Kentucky to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Washington County, KY. Between 2015 and 2025, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 21 flash flood events and 8 flood events, resulting in two fatalities. Recent examples include flash flooding on June 15th and 17th, 2025, driven by a stationary front and moist, unstable atmospheric conditions. A significant flood event also occurred on February 15th, 2025, associated with a strong storm system bringing heavy rainfall to central Kentucky.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone X_Unshaded experienced the highest average payouts and water depths, with an average claim of $37,495 and 17.1 feet of water. Zone A properties had an average claim of $31,686 with 2.0 feet of water, while Zone X properties averaged $20,715 with 4.9 feet of water. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone X_Unshaded and Zone A, as well as those without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE) determination, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
18 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Washington County, Kentucky has recorded 29 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 21 flash floods and 8 river or area floods. The county has received 29 federal disaster declarations, 3 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1989–2026)
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 |
| Remnants Of Hurricane Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 27, 2024 |
| 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 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Feb 6, 2019 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 17, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 10.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Apr 4, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 29, 2020 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 29, 2020 | 30.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Jun 29, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 29, 2020 | 60.00K |
| Flash Flood | Nov 30, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 31, 2018 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 17, 2025
Split upper-level flow set up over the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys for several days between June 15th and 17th, 2025. Upper low pressure became cut off, with a surface stationary front meandering back and forth across the lower Ohio Valley. In the vicinity of the surface front, a moist and unstable environment was present, with precipitable water values near 2 inches. Each afternoon, scattered...
Flash Flood — Jun 15, 2025
Split upper-level flow set up over the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys for several days between June 15th and 17th, 2025. Upper low pressure became cut off, with a surface stationary front meandering back and forth across the lower Ohio Valley. In the vicinity of the surface front, a moist and unstable environment was present, with precipitable water values near 2 inches. Each afternoon, scattered...
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 — Apr 4, 2025
On the night of April 2nd, 2025, a cold front approached the lower Ohio Valley. Along and ahead of the cold front, numerous supercells developed over southern Illinois and western Kentucky. These storms tracked eastward and occasionally grew upscale into a QLCS with bowing segments. Storms lasted all night and into the morning hours, as the cold front began to stall over the lower Ohio Valley. ...
Flash Flood — Jun 29, 2020
During a time without any major weather systems moving through the region, a moist atmosphere with differential heating and remaining outflows from earlier thunderstorms was enough for thunderstorms and heavy rain to develop across central Kentucky. This resulted in widespread wind damage, flooding, and even fires from lightning. An elderly man drowned and his wife was injured trying to drive t...
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 Washington 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 Washington 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.