115 flood insurance claims·$3.8M paid·6 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 Winona 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.
River overflow along the Mississippi and other regional basins dominates the flood profile of Winona County, which recorded 67 flood events and 31 flash flood events, resulting in 5 deaths, over the last 30 years according to the NOAA Storm Events Database.
Recent history illustrates this risk. In June 2024, above-normal monthly rainfall combined with upwards of 7 inches of rain between June 20th and 22nd, causing widespread river flooding that pushed the Mississippi River into flood stage. This high water persisted into July 2024, when many points along the Mississippi River south of Wabasha observed their maximum river stage in minor to moderate flooding before receding mid-month.
National Flood Insurance Program claims data indicates that properties in designated high-risk riverine areas face the greatest financial and physical exposure. Zone A properties account for 95 claims with an average payout of $43,779 and an average recorded water depth of 13 inches. By comparison, Zone X properties recorded 7 claims averaging $18,541 with an average water depth of 6 inches, unshaded Zone X properties recorded 6 claims averaging $15,388 with an average depth of 14 inches, unknown zones recorded 5 claims averaging $1,797 with an average depth of 2 inches, and shaded Zone X properties recorded 2 claims averaging $66,164 with an average depth of 8 inches. Homeowners, real estate agents, and journalists should focus primarily on properties situated near the Mississippi River and other flood-prone basins.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
8% of Winona County’s flood insurance claims were on properties rated outside FEMA’s high-risk zones.
103 NFIP claims with a recorded rated flood zone, 1978 to date. The zone is the one FEMA used to rate that policy, which may not match today’s map. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 13 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 2007, with 66 claims and $3.6M paid, the year of Severe Storms 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.
53 NOAA storm reports from Winona County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Minnesota flood stories →
17 federal disaster declarations since 1965, 6 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Mar 12, 2019 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Sep 22, 2010 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Aug 18, 2007 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Mar 23, 2001 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | May 17, 2000 |
| Severe Storms, Straight Line Winds, And Tornadoes | May 15, 1998 |
| Severe Flooding, High Winds,severe Storms | Mar 21, 1997 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
98 since 1996: 31 flash floods and 67 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 29, 2024 | $25,000 |
| Flash Flood | Aug 29, 2024 | — |
| Flood | Jun 25, 2024 | — |
| Flood | Jun 24, 2024 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 22, 2024 | $5,000 |
| Flood | Jul 1, 2024 | — |
| Flood | Jul 1, 2024 | $85,000 |
| Flood | Apr 16, 2023 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · Aug 29, 2024. During the late afternoon and evening hours on August 29th, storms of various modes moved across portions of southeast Minnesota bringing isolated wind damage. Additionally, the heavy rainfall from storms caused urban flooding in Winona which resulted in numerous streets being flooded and one instance of a vehicle being inundated with water.
Flood · Jun 25, 2024. Above normal rainfall over the course of June, combined with a robust rainfall event between June 20th and 22nd, led to widespread river flooding across portions of southeast Minnesota. Rainfall amounts upwards of 7 inches between the 20th and 22nd allowed the Mississippi River, Cedar River and many other river basins in southeast Minnesota to enter flood stage towards the end of June. Flooding along the Mississip…
Flood · Jun 24, 2024. Above normal rainfall over the course of June, combined with a robust rainfall event between June 20th and 22nd, led to widespread river flooding across portions of southeast Minnesota. Rainfall amounts upwards of 7 inches between the 20th and 22nd allowed the Mississippi River, Cedar River and many other river basins in southeast Minnesota to enter flood stage towards the end of June. Flooding along the Mississip…
Flash Flood · Jun 22, 2024. During the early morning hours on June 22nd, a slow moving line of thunderstorms produced flooding resulting in several road closures. Most notably Interstate 90 was closed in Mower County due to water over the road.
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 Winona 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.