9 flood insurance claims·$938,269 paid·5 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 Lake County, Minnesota. 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.
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms dominates the flood character of Lake County, Minnesota, according to the NOAA Storm Events Database. Over the last 30 years, the county has recorded 15 flash flood events compared to 2 general flood events.
A notable event occurred on June 18, 2024, when a stationary surface front combined with an anomalously moist airmass to produce widespread flash flooding. During this event, NWS Duluth issued multiple Flash Flood Warnings across northeastern Minnesota, with several upgraded to include tags for life-threatening flash flooding, alongside severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.
National Flood Insurance Program records indicate that property owners across various zones should pay attention to flood risks. Zone X_Unshaded recorded 4 claims with an average payout of $226,391 and an average recorded water depth of 0 inches. Zone A recorded 2 claims with an average payout of $6,550 and an average recorded water depth of 3 inches. Zone X recorded 2 claims with an average payout of $13,077 and an average recorded water depth of 0 inches, while Zone Unknown logged 1 claim with an average payout of $0 and an average recorded water depth of 0 inches.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 3 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 2019, with 3 claims and $654,768 paid, the year of Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding.
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.
12 NOAA storm reports from Lake County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Minnesota flood stories →
12 federal disaster declarations since 1972, 5 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Jun 16, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Apr 22, 2022 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Jun 15, 2018 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Jun 14, 2012 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Mar 16, 2009 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Mar 23, 2001 |
| Severe Storms, Winds, And Flooding | Jul 4, 1999 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
17 since 1996: 15 flash floods and 2 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 18, 2024 | — |
| Flood | Jun 18, 2024 | $30,000 |
| Flash Flood | May 13, 2022 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 17, 2018 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 10, 2016 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2012 | $191,000 |
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2012 | $1.9M |
| Flash Flood | Jun 6, 2008 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · Jun 18, 2024. On Tuesday, June 18, 2024, a stationary surface front, in conjunction with an anomalously moist airmass over the Northland, resulting in widespread flash flooding. NWS Duluth issued seven Flash Flood Warnings (across much of NE MN and the Bayfield Peninsula), three of which were upgraded to include a considerable tag for life threatening flash flooding. Additionally, severe thunderstorms occurred ahead of the heav…
Flood · Jun 18, 2024. On Tuesday, June 18, 2024, a stationary surface front, in conjunction with an anomalously moist airmass over the Northland, resulting in widespread flash flooding. NWS Duluth issued seven Flash Flood Warnings (across much of NE MN and the Bayfield Peninsula), three of which were upgraded to include a considerable tag for life threatening flash flooding. Additionally, severe thunderstorms occurred ahead of the heav…
Flash Flood · May 13, 2022. A low pressure system moved northward from the Central Plains to the Northern Plains on May 12th and lifted a warm front across the Northland bringing two rounds of storms to the region. The first round during the afternoon hours were prolific hail producing storms with the largest hail stones being ping pong ball sized. Another round of storms arrived during the early evening hours and contained strong winds that…
Flash Flood · Jun 17, 2018. The third and final day of a three day severe weather event across the Northland. A stalled out frontal system finally made a push across the area leading to another round of severe storms and heavy rainfall over areas that had seen dramatic flash flooding the previous night. Widespread rainfall amounts of 1-2 inches plus over northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin sent already swollen creeks and rivers…
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 Lake 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.