Enter any address in Grand Traverse County, Michigan to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Grand Traverse County. Between 2000 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 13 flash flood events and 5 flood events, alongside 2 lakeshore flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding on June 25, 2023, and flooding on October 24, 2023, both associated with severe thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows a mix of flood risk across different zones. While Zone A and Zone X have seen numerous claims, Zone X_UNSHADED has the highest average payout at $30,017, with an average water depth of 4.2 feet. Homeowners in Zone X_UNSHADED, as well as those in Zone A and near lakeshores or rivers, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
9 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Grand Traverse County, Michigan has recorded 20 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 13 flash floods and 5 river or area floods. The county has received 5 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1977–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Blizzards & Snowstorms | Snowstorm | Jan 27, 1978 |
| Drought | Drought | Mar 2, 1977 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 25, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 25, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 24, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 24, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 6, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 24, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 28, 2020 | 310.00K |
| Flood | Oct 22, 2020 | 35.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 18, 2020 | 15.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 10, 2020 | 90.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 25, 2023
A seasonably strong shortwave progressed over the Midwest and mid-Mississippi River Valley, providing support for a sub-1000mb cyclone just west of Lake Michigan. Favorable warm, moist advection across the Great Lakes set the state for severe thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening. Multiple rounds of thunderstorms tracked across northern Michigan through the afternoon and evening, produ...
Flood — Jun 25, 2023
A seasonably strong shortwave progressed over the Midwest and mid-Mississippi River Valley, providing support for a sub-1000mb cyclone just west of Lake Michigan. Favorable warm, moist advection across the Great Lakes set the state for severe thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening. Multiple rounds of thunderstorms tracked across northern Michigan through the afternoon and evening, produ...
Flash Flood — Oct 24, 2023
A jet max punched over the northern Great Lakes on 10/24, helping to support multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms through the day. As the first round of storms moved east across the area through the morning, favorable warm and moist air advection helped spark a second round of storms along the existing outflow boundary from the first round. These west-east oriented storms tracked east o...
Flood — Oct 24, 2023
A jet max punched over the northern Great Lakes on 10/24, helping to support multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms through the day. As the first round of storms moved east across the area through the morning, favorable warm and moist air advection helped spark a second round of storms along the existing outflow boundary from the first round. These west-east oriented storms tracked east o...
Flood — Sep 6, 2023
A relatively weak shortwave rotated over the Great Lakes during the day, setting up unidirectional southwest flow amidst a moisture-rich environment that allowed for multiple clusters of thunderstorms to track over areas near Grand Traverse Bay. There storms produced very efficient rainfall over several hours during the afternoon, leading to multiple reports of flooding and measured rainfall to...
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 Grand Traverse County, Michigan:
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 Grand Traverse County, Michigan 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.