Enter any address in Washington County, Missouri to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall is the primary flood hazard in Washington County, MO. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 24 recorded flash flood events compared to 2 general flood events. Recent examples include a flash flood event on April 4, 2025, which caused impassable roads due to heavy rainfall, and another on July 16, 2021, where training storms dropped up to four inches of rain in a short period, leading to several flash flood reports.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties designated as Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $5,897 and an average water depth of 0.7 feet. While fewer claims have been filed in Zone X, these also show an average water depth of 0.5 feet. Homeowners in areas mapped as Zone A, or those located near creeks and streams that could experience rapid rises in water levels, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
5 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Washington County, Missouri has recorded 26 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 24 flash floods and 2 river or area floods. The county has received 27 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 | Apr 29, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Mar 30, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Nov 3, 2024 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| 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, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 15, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 19, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Jan 31, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Apr 4, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Nov 4, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 29, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 16, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 29, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 15, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 11, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 16, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 10, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 8, 2015 | 0.00K |
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 4, 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...
Flash Flood — Apr 29, 2021
Southerly flow as well as intermittent showers and a few thunderstorms raised the dew point into the mid 60s to around 70 across the area. Also, forecast soundings showed a very moist and deep warm layer up to around 12,000 feet. This combined with strong 850mb moisture convergence across southern Missouri and Illinois and precipitable water values in the 99th plus percentile, set the region ...
Flash Flood — Jul 16, 2021
Training storms moved through portions of southeast Missouri and southwestern Illinois with up to 4 inches of rain in a short amount of time. There were several reports of flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Apr 29, 2017
A strong spring storm system brought multiple rounds of thunderstorms and heavy rain to the southeast half of Missouri during the weekend of April 29th-30th. Rainfall totals surpassed nine inches in some locations and this led to flash flooding and historic flooding along some of the tributaries of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. Areas along the Meramec River were especially hard hit as n...
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 Washington 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 Washington 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.