Enter any address in Dakota County, Minnesota to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Dakota County. Between 1993 and 2023, NOAA data recorded 21 flash flood events and 10 flood events. Recent examples include a flash flood on August 16, 2016, which caused two feet of water flow in parts of Apple Valley and a mudslide on County Road 61 in the Minnesota River Valley. Another flash flood event occurred on July 19, 2017, impacting southern Minnesota.
FEMA data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most National Flood Insurance Program claims, with an average payout of $31,601 and an average water depth of 12.5 feet. Properties in Zone X also see claims, though with lower average payouts and water depths. Residents in areas designated as Zone A, or those located near rivers and tributaries, 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.
Dakota County, Minnesota has recorded 31 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 21 flash floods and 10 river or area floods. The county has received 16 federal disaster declarations, 6 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1965–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 14, 2012 |
| Flooding | Flood | Mar 1, 2010 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Flood | Mar 23, 2001 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 17, 2000 |
| Severe Storms, Straight Line Winds, And Tornadoes | Tornado | May 15, 1998 |
| Severe Flooding, High Winds,severe Storms | Flood | Mar 21, 1997 |
| Flooding And Severe Storms | Flood | Mar 14, 1996 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Mar 17, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 19, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 16, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 17, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 18, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 17, 2014 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 1, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 13, 2013 | 150.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 14, 2012 | 1.00M |
| Flash Flood | Jun 26, 2010 | 0.00K |
Flood — Mar 17, 2019
There were many factors that led to a severe Spring flood melt along the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers and several of their tributaries during the last two weeks of March. The first factor was above average snowpack, especially over the Minnesota River Valley for mid March. Additionally, the added effect of a cold late Winter kept this snowpack deeper into the early Spring. Once temperatures...
Flash Flood — Jul 19, 2017
Several storms moved across southern Minnesota during the mid afternoon hours of Wednesday, July 19th. A few of the storms bowed out from south of Redwood Falls to Mankato, and into Owatonna and Northfield. There were numerous reports of downed trees and power lines with some corn fields flattened in southern Brown County near Comfrey.
Flash Flood — Aug 16, 2016
The afternoon of Tuesday, August 16th, a cluster of thunderstorms developed in the southwest suburbs of the Twin Cities near Shakopee and Chanhassen. These storms moved slowly to the east and northeast and produced large hail near downtown Minneapolis and torrential rainfall in the southern part of the cities. County Road 61, in the Minnesota River Valley, had a mud slide due to the intense rai...
Flash Flood — Sep 17, 2015
A line of thunderstorms developed early Thursday morning, September 17th in eastern Minnesota, near the Twin Cities. These storms produced very heavy rainfall, gusty winds and some hail. The largest hail stone was quarter size near Crystal. Several thunderstorms moved across northern Dakota, southern Ramsey, and parts of western Washington Counties, and produced up to 2-3 inches of rainfall in ...
Flood — Jun 18, 2014
Several rounds of thunderstorms began during the week of June 14th, and continued through most of the week with areas of flash flooding. The flash flooding evolved into areal flooding, and then main-stem river flooding which continued through the end of the month. The hardest hit areas were from New Ulm to Mankato, northeast through the length of the Minnesota River, and the Twin Cities Metro a...
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 Dakota County, Minnesota:
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 Dakota County, Minnesota 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.