Enter any address in Dawson County, Montana to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow and ice jams are the primary drivers of flooding in Dawson County. For example, an ice jam on the Yellowstone River near Glendive caused minor flooding on February 26, 2025. Spring snowmelt, rainfall, and ice jams also contributed to river levels rising above flood stage across northeast Montana in late March 2019.
While flash flooding from thunderstorms has also occurred, resulting in washed-out roads, the majority of recent flood events have been associated with river systems. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A or Zone UNKNOWN by FEMA should pay particular attention to flood risk. These zones have experienced NFIP claims, with Zone UNKNOWN claims showing a higher average water depth and payout compared to Zone A.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
1 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Dawson County, Montana has recorded 32 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 10 flash floods and 22 river or area floods. The county has received 9 federal disaster declarations, 3 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1986–2021)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Straight-line Winds | Other | Jun 10, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Ice Jams And Flooding | Flood | Mar 1, 2014 |
| Flooding | Flood | May 19, 2013 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 4, 2011 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms,ice Jams, Snow Melt, Flooding | Severe Storm | Mar 1, 1997 |
| Heavy Rains, Landslides & Flooding | Flood | Feb 24, 1986 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jul 31, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 26, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 21, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 17, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 26, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 23, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 7, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 17, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 10, 2014 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 8, 2013 | 0.00K |
Flood — Feb 26, 2025
An ice jam, along with local runoff into the Yellowstone River near Glendive, helped produce minor flooding in the Glendive area.
Flood — Mar 21, 2019
Spring season snow melt combined with additional rainfall and ice jams along area rivers, to rise the level of many creeks and rivers above flood stage across northeast Montana through the last several days of March.
Flood — Sep 17, 2019
A small, but compact storm system moving through eastern Montana combined with an unstable atmosphere to form strong thunderstorms - a few of which became severe through Wibaux, Dawson, and Richland Counties.
Flash Flood — May 26, 2018
A cold front extending from a surface low over Saskatchewan, combined with a strong low pressure trough over northeast Montana amid a very unstable atmosphere to produce numerous thunderstorms, some of which became severe. Later in the evening, some of these storms merged together, produced strong winds as they departed Montana. In addition, heavy rain, caused a few roads to wash out.
Flood — Mar 23, 2018
The spring thaw through the central Montana region allowed ice to break up along the Yellowstone River. The sudden warm up in temperatures resulted in a brief period of ice jam flooding near the Glendive area of Dawson County.
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 Dawson County, Montana:
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 Dawson County, Montana 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.