Enter any address in Marshall County, Mississippi to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Marshall County, MS. Between 2000 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 21 flash flood events, along with 2 general flood events and 1 tropical storm. Recent examples include flash flooding reported on July 4, 2023, due to slow-moving, heavy rainfall-producing thunderstorms, and another instance on July 21, 2023, driven by strong atmospheric instability.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced an average water depth of 8.0 feet and an average payout of $34,307. Claims in Zone X also show significant payouts, averaging $32,147 with an average water depth of 2.0 feet. Residents in areas designated as Zone A, or those without a confirmed Base Flood Elevation (BFE), should pay the most 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.
Marshall County, Mississippi has recorded 24 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 21 flash floods and 2 river or area floods. The county has received 18 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1971–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 23, 2026 |
| Hurricane Ida | Hurricane | Aug 28, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 23, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Associated Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 15, 2011 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 1, 2010 |
| Hurricane Gustav | Hurricane | Aug 28, 2008 |
| Hurricane Katrina | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding | Severe Storm | Nov 24, 2001 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Mar 15, 2025 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 21, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 4, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 9, 2021 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 31, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 10, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 27, 2011 | 500.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | May 24, 2010 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 16, 2010 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 2, 2010 | 500.00K |
Flash Flood — Mar 15, 2025
An upper low over the Central Plains moved into the Upper Mississippi Valley during the evening hours of Friday, March 14, 2025. Increasing moisture advection ahead of an approaching cold front lifted dewpoints into the low to mid 60s. This coupled with increasing height falls and a mid-level 80 knot jet rotating around the main upper low supported severe thunderstorm development. Large looping...
Flash Flood — Jul 21, 2023
A residual boundary left over from pre-dawn storms was located near the Tennessee/Mississippi state line during the morning hours of July 21, 2023. By early afternoon a progressive mid-level trough moved into the region on northwest flow aloft. Along and south of the boundary the airmass became strongly unstable with mixed-layer convective available potential energy values over 4000 J/kg and do...
Flash Flood — Jul 4, 2023
Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed along and south of I-40 due to diurnal heating during the late afternoon on July 4, 2023. Weak wind shear combined with deep moisture produced slow-moving, highly efficient rainfall-producing thunderstorms. There were several reports of flash flooding across the area.
Flash Flood — Jul 9, 2021
A weak cold front stalled across extreme northern Mississippi. Showers and thunderstorms with very heavy rain developed along this boundary. These storms were slow-moving resulting in some flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Aug 31, 2017
The remnants of Harvey tracked across the Mid-South with heavy rain and gusty winds. There were several reports of flash flooding and a few tornadoes.
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 Marshall County, Mississippi:
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 Marshall County, Mississippi 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.