Enter any address in Lincoln County, Montana to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow and rain-on-snow flooding have been the dominant flood types in Lincoln County, MT over the last 30 years, with 18 flood events recorded. Recent events include catastrophic rain-on-snow flooding from an atmospheric river in December 2025 and areal and river flooding from convective and upslope precipitation in June 2022.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $11,290 and an average water depth of 2.4 feet. While Zone X_UNSHADED and Zone X_SHADED have fewer claims, the average payouts in these zones are higher, with Zone X_SHADED showing an average payout of $25,440. Homeowners in or near floodplains, particularly those in Zone A, and those in lower-lying areas that may not have a Base Flood Elevation (BFE) established, should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
2 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Lincoln County, Montana has recorded 18 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database. The county has received 12 federal disaster declarations, 2 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1974–2025)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Dec 10, 2025 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Moose Peak Fire | Fire | Sep 9, 2017 |
| West Fork Fire | Fire | Sep 9, 2017 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Mt - Northwestern Zone 1 Fire Complex | Fire | Aug 14, 2000 |
| Wildfires | Fire | Jul 13, 2000 |
| Severe Storms,ice Jams, Snow Melt, Flooding | Severe Storm | Mar 1, 1997 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Ice Jams | Severe Storm | Feb 4, 1996 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Dec 11, 2025 | 31.00M |
| Flood | Jun 14, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 5, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 19, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 13, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Nov 7, 2006 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 19, 2005 | — |
| Flood | May 21, 2002 | — |
| Flood | Apr 14, 2002 | — |
| Flood | May 25, 1999 | — |
Flood — Dec 11, 2025
Record precipitation fell as a prolonged atmospheric river event gripped the region from December 6 through 12. Much like a garden hose being moved back and forth, the jet stream shifted the focus of this moisture plume across the Pacific Northwest, repeatedly drenching parts of northern Idaho and western Montana. Between December 10 and 11, 2025, the atmospheric river specifically focused on n...
Flood — Jun 14, 2022
Periods of convective and upslope precipitation brought areal and river flooding June 11 through June 16. Rainfall of 2 to 6 inches was common for the lower elevations of Northwest Montana between June 11 and June 15. Mountain locations received up to 10 inches of moisture over the same period. River flooding continued well into late June for the Flathead River.
Flood — May 5, 2018
The combination of above normal mountain snow-pack up to 200% of normal and warmer than normal temperatures in the month of May led to continued and new river flooding. Missoula County reported that the tally for damage was to the amount of $450,000.
Flood — Mar 19, 2017
Due to recent heavy rain and snow-melt, several main-stem rivers experienced minor flooding.
Flood — May 13, 2013
Snow-melt caused by unseasonably warm temperatures reaching the middle 80s allowed for northwest Montana rivers to rise to minor flood stages.
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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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.