Enter any address in Forsyth County, North Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the most frequent type of flood event recorded in Forsyth County over the last 30 years, with 59 occurrences. Tropical storms and hurricanes have also contributed to flood events, with 4 occurrences each. Recent examples include flash flooding on January 9, 2024, which caused widespread tree damage, and a flash flood event on July 2, 2022, associated with a cold front pushing into the region.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that Zone A, typically areas of higher flood risk, has had the highest number of claims at 213, with an average payout of $11,574 and an average water depth of 2.4 feet. Zone X, representing moderate flood risk, has also seen significant claims, with 129 claims averaging $10,525 and an average water depth of 4.8 feet. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X, as well as those in lower-risk zones like X_UNSHADED and X_SHADED, should be aware of their flood risk and consider appropriate insurance.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
26 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Forsyth County, North Carolina has recorded 70 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 59 flash floods and 3 river or area floods. The county has received 25 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1977–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 21, 2026 |
| Hurricane Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 25, 2024 |
| Tropical Storm Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 25, 2024 |
| Tropical Storm Debby | Tropical Storm | Aug 5, 2024 |
| Hurricane Ian | Hurricane | Sep 28, 2022 |
| Hurricane Isaias | Hurricane | Jul 31, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Dorian | Hurricane | Sep 1, 2019 |
| Tropical Storm Michael | Hurricane | Oct 10, 2018 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jan 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 30, 2022 | 1.00M |
| Flash Flood | Jul 5, 2022 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 5, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 2, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 1, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 29, 2020 | 1.50M |
| Flash Flood | Aug 14, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Nov 12, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 10, 2020 | 15.00K |
Flash Flood — Jan 9, 2024
A potent area of low pressure moved through the Gulf Coast states into the Southeast United States. Widespread gusty winds developed across North Carolina ahead of this low, and a line of showers and thunderstorms swept through North Carolina during the afternoon and evening hours. Widespread tree damage was associated with this event, both within the gradient winds ahead of the thunderstorms, ...
Tropical Storm — Sep 30, 2022
Hurricane Ian made landfall along the South Carolina coast near Georgetown during the early afternoon hours of September 30, 2022. Widespread wind gusts over tropical storm force and heavy rainfall occurred across much of central North Carolina through the afternoon and evening hours. There were numerous reports of wind damage and power outages as a result of the storm.
Flash Flood — Jul 5, 2022
A warm front draped from the Great Lakes into the Ohio Valley led to morning showers and thunderstorms across the Ohio Valley early in the day. These showers and storms continued to progress southward toward central North Carolina in the evening hours, especially across the northwest, central, and southern Piedmont. The storms did not completely clear the area until the early overnight hours, a...
Flash Flood — Jul 2, 2022
A mid-level trough across the Great Lakes helped push a weak cold front into the central North Carolina Piedmont during the evening and overnight hours. Ahead of the front, storms over the Ohio Valley and West Virginia produced additional surface boundaries across the northern Piedmont. The approach of the front led to development of scattered to numerous showers and storms across the northwest...
Flash Flood — Jul 1, 2021
An unstable air mass was present across central North Carolina in the afternoon and evening of July 1. An approaching cold front, along with a large upper-level trough, were present across Virginia and North Carolina. Scattered thunderstorms developed over central South Carolina and moved northeast into North Carolina. These storms merged into a line of storms that produced widespread strong wi...
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 Forsyth County, North Carolina:
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 Forsyth County, North Carolina 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.