Enter any address in Newton County, Missouri to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense rainfall events is the dominant flood character in Newton County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 189 flash flood events, significantly outnumbering general flood events. For example, a strong storm system on April 20th, 2025, brought heavy rain leading to multiple area rivers reaching minor to moderate flood stage. Similarly, heavy rainfall on June 4th, 2025, caused significant flash flooding in and around Marshfield, with some areas receiving 3-5 inches of rain over two days.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $27,410 and an average water depth of 2.2 feet. However, properties in Zone X_UNSHADED have seen higher average payouts ($23,834) with a notable average water depth of 18.2 feet, and Zone UNKNOWN claims averaged a significant 7.1 feet of water. Residents in areas designated as Zone A, as well as those in Zone X_UNSHADED and Zone UNKNOWN, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
69 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Newton County, Missouri has recorded 238 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 189 flash floods and 49 river or area floods. The county has received 28 federal disaster declarations, 6 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2025)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 29, 2025 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 29, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds And Flooding | Flood | Apr 28, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Dec 23, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 19, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Severe Storm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 8, 2009 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Apr 30, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 20, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 6, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 4, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 8, 2024 | 18.00K |
| Flood | Mar 24, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 24, 2023 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 24, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 21, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 13, 2023 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Apr 30, 2025
Slow moving showers and storms moved over portions of the Ozarks that had received multiple rounds of heavy rainfall over the preceding week. This lead to flooding on several low water crossings and caused some rivers to reach minor flood stage.
Flash Flood — Apr 20, 2025
A strong storm system moved through the area on Sunday April 20th, 2025. This system brought tornadoes, damaging wind, large hail and heavy rain. The heavy rainfall led to flooding as the area had already received heavy rainfall from storms earlier in the week. Multiple area rivers reached minor to moderate flood stage due to heavy runoff.
Flash Flood — Jun 6, 2025
A round of showers and thunderstorms occurred during the late night hours of June 5th through the morning hours of June 6th. A line of thunderstorms moved into the area from the southwest and caused damaging winds and a tornado. Additional rainfall on June 7th caused flash flooding occurred due to saturated soils.
Flood — Jun 4, 2025
A very moist airmass led to the development of thunderstorms with heavy rainfall rates during the morning and afternoon of June 4th. Significant flash flooding occurred in and around the city of Marshfield. Additional heavy rainfall caused flooding into the evening and overnight hours with some areas picking up two day totals of 3-5 inches.
Flash Flood — Jul 8, 2024
A cluster of showers with embedded thunderstorms tied to a weak shortwave advected into southwest Missouri during the afternoon of July 8, 2024. This resulted in heavy rainfall and flash flooding across portions of the Missouri Ozarks, with isolated thunderstorms producing damaging winds.
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 Newton County, Missouri:
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 Newton County, Missouri 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.