Enter any address in Harford County, Maryland to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the most frequent type of flood event in Harford County, MD, accounting for 146 occurrences in the last 30 years. These events can be intense, as seen on July 31, 2025, when slow-moving thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall averaging two to six inches in affected areas, leading to scattered to numerous instances of flash flooding. Other flood types, including general flooding, coastal flooding, tropical storms, and storm surge, have also occurred.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $14,916 and an average water depth of 5.8 feet. Properties in Zone X also see claims, though with lower average payouts and water depths. Residents in coastal areas, those near rivers, and properties located in zones without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE) should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
62 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Harford County, Maryland has recorded 231 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 146 flash floods and 79 river or area floods. The county has received 20 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 (1971–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 23, 2026 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Jan 22, 2016 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 26, 2012 |
| Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee | Flood | Sep 6, 2011 |
| Hurricane Irene | Hurricane | Aug 26, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms | Snowstorm | Feb 5, 2010 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Dec 18, 2009 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 31, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 30, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 16, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 8, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Jan 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Aug 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 5, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 28, 2023 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 31, 2025
A slow moving cold front combined with a highly unstable atmosphere along with tropical moisture to produce slow moving thunderstorms with heavy rainfall. Some of these storms trained over the same areas, resulting in scattered to numerous instances of flash flooding. Total rainfall amounts in areas with flash flooding averaged two to four inches, though some localized amounts up to six inches ...
Flash Flood — Jun 30, 2025
A boundary stalled across northeast Maryland and interacted with the Chesapeake Bay breeze to result in a nearly stationary thunderstorm across Baltimore and Harford counties for much of the late afternoon and evening. Localized rainfall amounts of two to six inches were observed, with instances of flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Jul 16, 2025
An anomalously moist airmass with tropical moisture resided over much of Maryland on July 16th. This comes after several days of showers and thunderstorms, which left some areas with suppressed flash flood guidance. Slow moving thunderstorms developed on remnant boundaries and terrain circulations before propagating eastward. These storms produced localized rainfall amounts of two to five inc...
Flash Flood — Aug 13, 2025
Slow moving thunderstorms along a frontal boundary resulted in a localized two to four inches of rain. This resulted in instances of flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Jul 8, 2025
An area of slow moving thunderstorms trained along a residual boundary across northeast Maryland. This resulted in heavy rain and a localized two to four inches of rain over a two hour period.
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 Harford County, Maryland:
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 Harford County, Maryland 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.