Enter any address in Chautauqua County, New York to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the most frequent type of flood event recorded in Chautauqua County over the last 30 years, with 94 such events. Lakeshore flooding and general flooding events also occur. For example, heavy rain from thunderstorms caused flash flooding on June 18th, and again on April 21st, when a cold front moved through the region.
National Flood Insurance Program data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $4,822 for 1.4 feet of water depth. However, properties in Zone X, though fewer in number, have seen significantly higher average payouts of $41,570 with an average water depth of 1.4 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
102 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Chautauqua County, New York has recorded 122 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 94 flash floods and 13 river or area floods. The county has received 24 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 (1972–2022)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Winter Storm | Nov 18, 2022 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Oct 31, 2019 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding | Snowstorm | Nov 17, 2014 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 13, 2014 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Jun 26, 2013 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 27, 2012 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Aug 8, 2009 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Apr 21, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 21, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 18, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 26, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Lakeshore Flood | Mar 25, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Lakeshore Flood | Dec 23, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 21, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 29, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Lakeshore Flood | Mar 26, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 21, 2021 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Apr 21, 2025
A mid level trough and cold front tracking across the region caused showers and thunderstorms to develop on the afternoon of Monday April 21st. Some of the thunderstorms caused gusty winds and heavy rainfall, with at least one of the storms causing enough heavy rainfall to prompt the need for a Flash Flood Warning.
Flood — Apr 21, 2025
A mid level trough and cold front tracking across the region caused showers and thunderstorms to develop on the afternoon of Monday April 21st. Some of the thunderstorms caused gusty winds and heavy rainfall, with at least one of the storms causing enough heavy rainfall to prompt the need for a Flash Flood Warning.
Flash Flood — Jun 18, 2025
Showers and thunderstorms developed along a Lake Erie lake breeze boundary during the late morning of June 18th. With the very high moisture laden airmass over the area, heavy rain occurred within some of the showers and thunderstorms that developed. Some of the thunderstorms, especially early, trained over the same area long enough to cause flash flooding issues. Additional showers and thunder...
Flash Flood — Jun 26, 2023
After a extended period with no severe weather, active weather returned to the area as a deep upper trough and surface low over the Great Lakes pushed a warm front northward across the region in the morning before a cold front quickly swept in during the afternoon. An embedded impulse along with building instability ahead of the front supported severe thunderstorms most of the afternoon. The ma...
Lakeshore Flood — Mar 25, 2023
Strong low pressure tracking across the lower Great Lakes to Quebec and a cold front brought a period of strong downslope winds along Lake Erie over far southwest New York during the daytime hours on the 25th. The more widespread strong and damaging winds from this event occurred from the evening of the 25th into the very early morning hours of the 26th. The strongest wind gusts observed were 6...
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 Chautauqua County, New York:
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 Chautauqua County, New York 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.