3,752 flood insurance claims·$36.4M paid·8 federal flood & hurricane disasters
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 Middlesex County, Massachusetts. 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.
River and general flooding dominate the historical record in Middlesex County, accounting for 183 events over the last 30 years, alongside 75 flash flood events and 6 tropical storms. Recent recorded incidents include a January 2024 event driven by a surface low-pressure center that produced heavy rain, widespread river flooding with many rivers reaching major flood stage, and coastal flooding. Additionally, a system on August 18, 2023, brought torrential downpours and flooding due to surging dewpoints and high precipitable water values.
National Flood Insurance Program claims data shows impacts across multiple zones, with the highest concentration in Zone A, which logged 1,951 claims with an average water depth of 9 inches and an average payout of $12,976. Properties in moderate-to-low risk areas also experience flooding, including 501 claims in Zone X_UNSHADED with an average water depth of 7 inches, 490 claims in Zone X with an average water depth of 7 inches, 256 claims in Zone X_SHADED with an average water depth of 7 inches, and 538 claims in Zone UNKNOWN with an average water depth of 3 inches.
Homeowners, real estate agents, and journalists should pay the closest attention to properties located within high-risk Zone A, as well as unshaded and shaded Zone X areas where numerous claims and average water depths of 7 inches indicate recurring flood risks outside designated high-risk zones.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
28% of Middlesex County’s flood insurance claims were on properties rated outside FEMA’s high-risk zones.
2,722 NFIP claims with a recorded rated flood zone, 1978 to date. The zone is the one FEMA used to rate that policy, which may not match today’s map. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 8 inches.
Drawn to scale against an 80-inch door. Even a few inches soaks flooring, the bottom of the drywall and anything plugged in near the floor.
Average of the depths reported on claims (zero and implausible values left out); FEMA’s record doesn’t say exactly where each depth was measured. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
The worst year was 2010, with 658 claims and $10.3M paid, the year of Severe Storms and Flooding and Hurricane Earl.
Bar height is scaled by square root so ordinary years stay visible next to the worst one. NFIP claims by year of loss. Source: OpenFEMA.
106 NOAA storm reports from Middlesex County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Massachusetts flood stories →
35 federal disaster declarations since 1985, 8 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Hurricane Lee | Sep 15, 2023 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Mar 13, 2018 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding | Jan 26, 2015 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding | Feb 8, 2013 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Oct 27, 2012 |
| Severe Storm | Oct 29, 2011 |
| Severe Storm And Snowstorm | Oct 29, 2011 |
| Hurricane Irene | Aug 26, 2011 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
264 since 1996: 75 flash floods and 183 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 7, 2025 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 26, 2024 | — |
| Flood | Jan 9, 2024 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 29, 2023 | — |
| Flood | Jun 26, 2023 | $500 |
| Flash Flood | Jul 21, 2023 | — |
| Flood | May 20, 2023 | — |
| Flood | Aug 18, 2023 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · Jun 7, 2025. A stationary boundary led to some heavy downpours which caused localized flooding in eastern MA.
Flash Flood · Jun 26, 2024. Strong storms moved through southern New England overnight bringing a line of very strong winds, some flash flooding, and two tornados to Massachusetts.
Flood · Jan 9, 2024. A negatively tilted mid level trough swung through New England while at the surface a low pressure center passed directly over southern New England. This inland runner brought warm air so that all precipitation fell as rain, along with strong winds. There was a good deal of tree damage from the winds and widespread river flooding with many rivers going into major flood stage. Coastal flooding was also a problem. M…
Flash Flood · Jul 29, 2023. A shortwave disturbance and potent cold front brought multiple rounds of thunderstorms to Massachusetts in the afternoon and evening including a tornado in the Foxboro area. Flash flooding was also an issue with many cars becoming stuck in water and many closed roads.
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 Middlesex 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.