Enter any address in Yellowstone County, Montana to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms dominates Yellowstone County's flood events. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 24 flash flood events and 13 flood events, including one fatality. Recent examples include localized flooding in western Yellowstone County on June 2, 2023, due to moderate to heavy rain, and torrential rain from a severe thunderstorm impacting southwest Yellowstone County on July 24, 2022.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $14,018 for an average water depth of 0.8 feet. Zone D, though less frequent, has seen the highest average payouts at $28,886 for an average water depth of 4.2 feet. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A or Zone D, as well as those in Zone X with recorded flood depths, should pay particular attention to their flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
4 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Yellowstone County, Montana has recorded 37 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 24 flash floods and 13 river or area floods. The county has received 14 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 (1978–2022)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storm And Flooding | Flood | Jun 10, 2022 |
| Buffalo Wildfire | Fire | Jul 16, 2021 |
| Bobcat Fire | Fire | Sep 2, 2020 |
| Falling Star Fire | Fire | Aug 2, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Canyon Creek Fire | Fire | Aug 29, 2011 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 4, 2011 |
| Ford Road Fire | Fire | Aug 19, 2007 |
| Emerald Hills Fire | Fire | Aug 22, 2006 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jul 28, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 2, 2023 | 1.60M |
| Flash Flood | Jul 24, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 27, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 27, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 1, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 10, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 1, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 27, 2014 | 0.00K |
Flood — Jul 28, 2025
A few thunderstorms impacted heavily poplulated areas of eastern Montana, producing localized flooding, gusts up to 70 mph, and hail up to 2 inches in diameter.
Flash Flood — Jun 2, 2023
A very moist, easterly surface flow was in place across the Billings area. An area of moderate to heavy rain, with an occasional embedded thunderstorm, positioned itself over western Yellowstone County during the evening hours of the 2nd. Many areas were flooded, especially the west side of Billings.
Flash Flood — Jul 24, 2022
An isolated severe thunderstorm occurred across eastern Stillwater County and Southwest Yellowstone County during the early evening hours on the 24th. This thunderstorm produced large hail, very high wind gusts and torrential rain.
Flood — May 27, 2019
Several days of heavy rain, combined with snow melt from the northern Big Horn Mountains, resulted in areas of flooding across portions of Yellowstone, Big Horn and Powder River Counties.
Flash Flood — Jul 27, 2018
An unstable northwest flow aloft resulted in the development of a few severe thunderstorms across portions of the Billings Forecast Area. Large hail along with strong winds brought numerous reports of damage to cars on the west end of Billings. The storm dropped 1.11 inches of rain in 30 minutes at the National Weather Service Office on the west side of town, with the airport only receiving 0.3...
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 Yellowstone 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 Yellowstone 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.