Enter any address in Traverse County, Minnesota to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow is the dominant flood character in Traverse County, MN. Between 2003 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 26 flood events and 2 flash flood events. Recent events in April 2023 illustrate this, with rapid snowmelt from deep snowpack causing the Mustinka River and its tributaries to overflow, submerging roads and prompting sandbagging operations in areas including Wheaton.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced 69 claims, averaging $6,767 and 0.8 feet of water depth. However, properties in Zone X_UNSHADED have seen higher average payouts of $9,390 with an average water depth of 3.3 feet, and Zone X properties have the highest average payout at $11,101, despite a lower average water depth of 0.3 feet. Residents in areas near rivers and those in Zone A, which typically represents areas of moderate to major flood hazard, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
7 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Traverse County, Minnesota has recorded 28 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 2 flash floods and 26 river or area floods. The county has received 25 federal disaster declarations, 12 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1965–2023)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Apr 11, 2023 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 29, 2022 |
| 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, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 20, 2013 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Mar 16, 2011 |
| Flooding | Flood | Mar 1, 2010 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Mar 16, 2009 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Nov 27, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Apr 16, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 14, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 13, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 19, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 27, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 26, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 22, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 18, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 17, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 11, 2019 | 0.00K |
Flood — Apr 16, 2023
The Mustinka River and its tributaries experienced flooding due to the rapid snowmelt in western Minnesota caused by frozen soils and a quick thaw in the second week of April. The area, including Wheaton, saw a significant snow depth of 32 inches on April 6th. As a result, a large amount of snowmelt flowed into the waterways, leading to numerous county and township roads being submerged. To saf...
Flood — Apr 14, 2023
The Mustinka River and its tributaries experienced flooding due to the rapid snowmelt in western Minnesota caused by frozen soils and a quick thaw in the second week of April. The area, including Wheaton, saw a significant snow depth of 32 inches on April 6th. As a result, a large amount of snowmelt flowed into the waterways, leading to numerous county and township roads being submerged. To saf...
Flood — Apr 14, 2023
During early April, an unprecedented snow depth of 15 to 20 inches was recorded. However, a few weeks later, warmer temperatures triggered a rapid snowmelt that occurred over a span of four to five days in mid-April. This quick thaw led to extensive overland flooding in Traverse and Big Stone Counties, resulting in severe impacts to public and personal infrastructure. To protect their propertie...
Flood — Apr 13, 2023
The Mustinka River and its tributaries experienced flooding due to the rapid snowmelt in western Minnesota caused by frozen soils and a quick thaw in the second week of April. The area, including Wheaton, saw a significant snow depth of 32 inches on April 6th. As a result, a large amount of snowmelt flowed into the waterways, leading to numerous county and township roads being submerged. To saf...
Flood — Mar 19, 2022
Near to above normal snowfall was observed during the 2021-2022 cold season, and snow melt-induced river flooding resulted on the 12 Mile Creek from the 19-22nd. It crested in minor flood stage at 11.67 ft on March 20th.
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 Traverse 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 Traverse 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.