Enter any address in Cheshire County, New Hampshire to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms dominates the flood profile of Cheshire County, New Hampshire, accounting for 58 events and two deaths over the last 30 years, alongside 14 general flood events and 2 tropical storms. Recent damaging events include a flash flood driven by unstable, unseasonably hot air in May 2024, and multiple rounds of slow-moving thunderstorms over saturated soils in July 2023.
National Flood Insurance Program records show that property damage extends across multiple zones, with the highest concentration of claims occurring in high-risk areas. Specifically, Zone A accounts for 175 claims with an average payout of $32,655 and an average recorded water depth of 17 inches. Meanwhile, Zone X recorded 20 claims with a higher average payout of $148,392 and an average water depth of 6 inches, and Zone X_UNSHADED recorded 9 claims averaging $62,981 with an average water depth of 18 inches.
Homeowners and real estate agents managing properties in Zone A, Zone X, and Zone X_UNSHADED should pay the closest attention to flood risks, given the substantial claim payouts and recorded water depths associated with these zones during severe weather events.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
61 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Cheshire County, New Hampshire has recorded 74 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 58 flash floods and 14 river or area floods. The county has received 33 federal disaster declarations, 8 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2023)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Jul 9, 2023 |
| Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 29, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Stoddard Fire | Fire | Apr 21, 2016 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 26, 2013 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Severe Storm | Feb 8, 2013 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 26, 2012 |
| Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 29, 2012 |
| Severe Storm | Severe Storm | Oct 29, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 21, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 29, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 26, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 13, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 11, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 10, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 10, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 9, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 8, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 4, 2023 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — May 21, 2024
An unseasonably hot and humid airmass brought unstable conditions to southern New Hampshire as high pressure to the east allowed warm air from the southwest to move into the region. A weak mid-level disturbance triggered storms to develop by mid-afternoon across southern and central New Hampshire. A few of the storms became severe downing trees along with some large hail.
Flash Flood — Jul 29, 2023
A stalled frontal boundary and surface low pressure began to slowly lift northward into the southeast New Hampshire through the Midcoast of Maine on the afternoon of the 29th. Showers and thunderstorms developed along the boundary and moved eastward. Since the system as a whole showed very little forward progression, multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms ended up moving across the same l...
Flash Flood — Jun 26, 2023
On the evening of June 25, moderate to heavy rain occurred with rainfall rates briefly reaching up to 4��� per hour. Numerous storms repeatedly traveled over the same area of Southern Grafton County through midnight before the rain ended shortly after. After a short break in the rain activity from midnight through the morning of June 26, showers and thunderstorms began to redevelop across...
Flash Flood — Jul 13, 2023
A cold front moved approached New Hampshire from the west, bringing a line of showers and thunderstorms. The environment was a continuation of an anomalously moist airmass supportive of torrential rainfall. Ground conditions across New Hampshire were growing saturated, and streams were running high. The storms that developed on the evening of the 13th were concentrated across southwest New Hamp...
Flood — Jul 11, 2023
Saturday, July 8th through Monday, July 10th was an active weather period with numerous rounds of heavy rainfall moving across the state. Thunderstorms developed during the afternoon of Saturday, July 8th with scattered thunderstorms from the White Mountains down through the Monadnocks. Storms came to an end during the evening hours. Localized 3-hr rainfall totals ranged from 1 to 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 Cheshire County, New Hampshire:
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 Cheshire County, New Hampshire that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with a mortgage from a federally regulated or insured lender, or a federally backed loan, 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.