Enter any address in Rice County, Minnesota to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the primary flood hazard in Rice County. Over the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 18 flash flood events and 8 flood events. For example, a flash flood occurred on April 17, 2019, impacting areas from Mankato to Red Wing. More recently, a slow-moving complex of thunderstorms caused flooding on June 29, 2020, across southern Minnesota.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $46,473 and an average water depth of 6.3 feet. Properties in Zone X also have a significant number of claims, though with lower average payouts and water depths. Homeowners in Zone A, and those in Zone X_UNSHADED and Zone X_SHADED which have experienced deeper water, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
10 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Rice County, Minnesota has recorded 26 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 18 flash floods and 8 river or area floods. The county has received 14 federal disaster declarations, 5 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 Storms And Flooding | Flood | Sep 21, 2016 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Jun 11, 2014 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 14, 2012 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Sep 22, 2010 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Flood | Mar 23, 2001 |
| Severe Storms, Straight Line Winds, And Tornadoes | Tornado | May 15, 1998 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 26, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 29, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 17, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 22, 2016 | 700.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 12, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 18, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 13, 2013 | 2.00M |
| Flash Flood | Jun 17, 2012 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 14, 2012 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 2, 2012 | 100.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 26, 2025
A large scale mid-to-upper-level trough was moving across the northern plains on the afternoon of June 26th. Immediately ahead of this progressing wave was a mesoscale convective vortex moving out of the Missouri River Valley. Ahead of this MCV was a warm front that supplied sufficient shear and low-level moisture across southern Minnesota into northern Iowa. A low topped supercell developed wi...
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 — 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,...
Flood — Sep 22, 2016
On the evening of September 20th, a warm front was stretched west to east across southern Minnesota originating from a developing low pressure system across the South Dakota and Nebraska border. The weather pattern, and associated boundaries were nearly stationary through early Thursday morning, September 22nd. The atmosphere was very moist, which was evident in the soundings as near record hig...
Flash Flood — Aug 12, 2016
During the afternoon of Friday, August 12th, a slow moving storm system developed a small area of very heavy rainfall in southern Minnesota. Local radar had a rotating storm slowly wrapping around very heavy rainfall between Waseca, Waterville, and Lonsdale. Local communities reported road closures, with some homes and businesses having basement flooding. Hourly rainfall rates were as high as 2...
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 Rice 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 Rice 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.