Enter any address in Coos County, New Hampshire to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is a significant concern in Coos County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 74 flood events and 60 flash flood events, alongside 4 tropical storm events. For example, on July 10, 2024, remnants of Tropical Storm Beryl combined with a low-pressure system to bring 3 to 5 inches of rain to the region, causing flash flooding after preceding heavy rainfall saturated the ground.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced 43 claims with an average payout of $8,047 and an average water depth of 2.9 feet. Properties in Zone X, though fewer in number with 9 claims, have seen significantly higher average payouts of $13,388 with an average water depth of 20.2 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, Zone X, and areas with properties that may not be built to Base Flood Elevation (BFE) should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
72 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Coos County, New Hampshire has recorded 138 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 60 flash floods and 74 river or area floods. The county has received 28 federal disaster declarations, 6 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 10, 2024 |
| Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 17, 2023 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Jul 9, 2023 |
| Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 22, 2022 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | Oct 29, 2017 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 1, 2017 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 26, 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 | Jul 11, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 10, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 6, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 18, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 300.00K |
| Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 500.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 11, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 10, 2023 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 11, 2024
On July 10th the remnants of Tropical Storm Beryl phased with a low pressure system out of the Great Lakes to bring multiple rounds of heavy rainfall to northern New England, including Maine and New Hampshire. The previous 3 days had brought a swath of heavy rain just north of the White Mountains, saturating the ground and making it ideal for runoff. During the roughly 36 hour period, 3 to as m...
Flash Flood — Jul 10, 2024
On July 10th the remnants of Tropical Storm Beryl phased with a low pressure system out of the Great Lakes to bring multiple rounds of heavy rainfall to northern New England, including Maine and New Hampshire. The previous 3 days had brought a swath of heavy rain just north of the White Mountains, saturating the ground and making it ideal for runoff. During the roughly 36 hour period, 3 to as m...
Flash Flood — Jul 6, 2024
A slow moving cold front triggered scattered thunderstorms across northern New Hampshire on July 6th. Repeating storms across Grafton and Coos Counties produced locally heavy rainfall resulting in localized areas of road washouts.
Flash Flood — Jul 18, 2023
Scattered showers and thunderstorms with heavy rainfall developed across the White Mountains and areas northward on the afternoon of the 18th. Moist air supported torrential rainfall rates between 2 to 3 inches an hour, all of which fell over saturated soils. Localized flash flooding resulted where storms trained over the same locations.
Flood — Dec 18, 2023
Low pressure began organizing in the Gulf of Mexico on the 16th, setting record low sea level pressures as it traversed the Southeast through the 17th. Strong high pressure over the North Atlantic created a deep southeasterly flow that drew warm air into New England ahead of the approaching storm. By the time precipitation arrived on the evening of the 17th, temperatures were warm enough for ra...
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 Coos 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 Coos County, New Hampshire 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.