Enter any address in Nicollet County, Minnesota to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Nicollet County. Recent events include a slow-moving complex of thunderstorms causing heavy rain in late June 2020, and another flash flood event in late July 2020, both fueled by unusually moist atmospheres. Spring snowmelt also contributes to flood risk, as seen in the severe melt along the Minnesota River and its tributaries in March 2019, exacerbated by above-average snowpack and a cold late winter.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that while Zone X areas have seen the most claims, Zone A areas have experienced higher average payouts and water depths, suggesting a greater risk of significant damage in these locations. Homeowners in or near flood-prone areas, particularly those in Zone A or near rivers and streams, should pay close 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.
Nicollet County, Minnesota has recorded 23 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 11 flash floods and 12 river or area floods. The county has received 22 federal disaster declarations, 13 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1965–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Jun 16, 2024 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Mar 12, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Jun 15, 2018 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Jun 11, 2014 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Mar 16, 2011 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Sep 22, 2010 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Tornado | Jun 17, 2010 |
| Flooding | Flood | Mar 1, 2010 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 29, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 26, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 17, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 17, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 17, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 14, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 18, 2014 | 500.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 17, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 21, 2011 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flood | Sep 23, 2010 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 29, 2020
During the evening of Sunday, June 28th, a complex of thunderstorms that developed across Iowa previously, moved slowly northward across southern Minnesota before stalling in central Minnesota Monday morning. Before the torrential rain began in south central Minnesota, a few of the storms caused minor damage to a home in Sibley County. ||Deep moisture convergence along the axis of thunderstorms...
Flash Flood — Jul 26, 2020
A very anomalous moist atmosphere was in place for this flash flood event to develop. Precipitable water values (PWATs) were over 2 inches across southern Minnesota which is well over climatological normals. The 2.25 inches of precipitable water tallied from the 7 PM weather balloon launch at Chanhassen was just below record record levels for the day and was above the 95th percentile for this t...
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 — Apr 17, 2019
During the morning of Wednesday, April 17th, a large area of showers developed across southern Minnesota. Several embedded thunderstorms developed after sunrise and moved across south central, and into southeast and east central Minnesota. A very anomalous moist atmosphere was in place, and rainfall was very efficient. Several of the storms moved across the same areas from Mankato to St. Peter,...
Flash Flood — Jun 17, 2016
A large complex of thunderstorms developed across North Dakota during the early morning of Friday, June 17th. These storms moved eastward across eastern North Dakota and produced a large area of severe winds and hail. ||As the storms moved into northwest Minnesota Friday morning, a small line started to form and move southeast toward central Minnesota. Several reports of large hail occurred in ...
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 Nicollet 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 Nicollet 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.