Enter any address in Guilford County, North Carolina to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the most frequent flood event in Guilford County, NC, accounting for 137 occurrences in the last 30 years, with two associated fatalities. For example, flash flooding was reported on June 16, 2025, following a stalled cold front that produced persistent storms, and again on July 9, 2025, due to anomalous moisture and a weak trough of low pressure.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $17,089 and an average water depth of 3.1 feet. While Zone X properties have had fewer claims, their average water depth was higher at 4.2 feet, with an average payout of $13,491. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X, as well as those in areas without Base Flood Elevation (BFE) data, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
52 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Guilford County, North Carolina has recorded 149 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 137 flash floods and 5 river or area floods. The county has received 28 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 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 |
| Hurricane Florence | Hurricane | Sep 7, 2018 |
| Tornado And Severe Storms | Severe Storm | Apr 15, 2018 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 29, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 19, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 16, 2025 | 2.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2025 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2025 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2025 | 2.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 13, 2025 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 9, 2025 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 9, 2025 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — May 29, 2025
Storms over South Carolina in association with a mid-level system tracked into central North Carolina in the afternoon and evening hours. The storms initially produced a wind damage and isolated hail threat. Thereafter, the event evolved into a flash flood threat, with training and back building storms resulting in 3 or more inches per hour rainfall rates from Albemarle to Greensboro to Burling...
Flash Flood — Jul 19, 2025
An upper-level disturbance moved across central North Carolina, triggering storms that produced damaging wind gusts and a few reports of flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Jun 16, 2025
A southward moving cold front out of Virginia stalled out near the North Carolina border. Storms from the late evening on the 15th persisted into the early morning hours of the 16th along and south of the front, producing isolated flash flooding. The stalled boundary then fueled additional numerous showers and storms in the afternoon and evening hours of the 16th along small scale boundaries. S...
Flash Flood — Jul 15, 2025
Isolated to scattered showers and storms developed along the border with southeastern Virginia in the afternoon hours. The storms then propagated south and southwest during the evening hours. Several reports of flooding were observed, along with a few wind damage reports.
Flash Flood — Jul 14, 2025
A weak surface trough over the region focused isolated to scattered storms mainly across the Piedmont of central North Carolina in the afternoon and evening hours. A few storms were slow-moving, resulting in localized flash flooding.
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 Guilford 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 Guilford 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.