Enter any address in St. Louis city, Missouri to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from slow-moving thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in St. Louis City and County. In August 2025, heavy rainfall caused flash flooding that rendered multiple interstates impassable, including I-44, I-55, I-64, I-70, and I-255. Similar conditions occurred in April 2025, when a stationary front produced heavy rainfall leading to impassable roads across the metropolitan area.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A and Zone X have experienced the most claims. Zone A claims averaged $15,365 with an average water depth of 4.4 feet, while Zone X claims averaged $16,427 with an average water depth of 4.2 feet. Homeowners in these zones, as well as those in Zone X_UNSHADED which has seen high average payouts, should pay close 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.
St. Louis city, Missouri has recorded 41 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 33 flash floods and 8 river or area floods. The county has received 25 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 (1973–2025)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 16, 2025 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Jul 25, 2022 |
| 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 | Dec 23, 2015 |
| Flooding | Flood | Jun 1, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Jan 26, 2009 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And A Tornado | Severe Storm | Sep 11, 2008 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 19, 2025 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 12, 2025 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 10, 2025 | 300.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 4, 2025 | 200.00K |
| Flash Flood | Nov 5, 2024 | 60.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 14, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 28, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 26, 2022 | 85.00M (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Aug 30, 2021 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 15, 2020 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — May 19, 2025
A mesoscale convective complex rolled through Missouri during the overnight hours of May 19th. Though central, east-central, and northeast Missouri also experienced severe weather, the bulk of the event occurred in southeast Missouri. There, 7 confirmed tornadoes touched down. Luckily no injuries or fatalities were reported. Further north, the St. Louis metropolitan area was hammered with up to...
Flash Flood — Aug 12, 2025
During the afternoon of August 12th, thunderstorms developed along an axis of weak surface convergence. The environment they existed in was conducive for gusty winds and heavy rain. In St. Louis City, a continuously back-building thunderstorm caused flash flood conditions with numerous major interstates being closed from the amount of water atop them.
Flash Flood — Aug 10, 2025
Conditions were primed for flash flooding during the afternoon of August 10th. With very little wind shear, very high precipitable water values, and an area of moisture convergence, thunderstorms were able to develop and move very slowly as they poured out. This is what happened over the St. Louis metropolitan area. Flash flooding occurred as a result, with Interstates 44, 55, 64, 70, and 255 a...
Flash Flood — Apr 4, 2025
A stationary front over southern Missouri along with ample mid-level forcing, moisture, and efficient rain processes resulted in flooding across portions of east-central and southeast Missouri. Numerous roads across the St. Louis metropolitan area were impassable due to the heavy rainfall.
Flash Flood — Nov 5, 2024
Overnight on Sunday, November 3rd, a shield of rain and thunderstorms moved into the bi-state area. By Monday morning, persistent rainfall resulted in fatal flash flooding in southeast Missouri, with one fatality occurring in Iron County. Later on Monday evening, a QLCS produced two EF-0 tornadoes in east-central Missouri and shifted the axis of heaviest rain to the north. Due to the shift nort...
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 St. Louis city, 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 St. Louis city, 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.