Enter any address in Nelson County, North Dakota to see its FEMA flood zone
Flood events, including flash floods, are a notable hazard in Nelson County, ND. Over the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 44 flood events and 15 flash flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding on September 20, 2019, and September 21, 2019, associated with a line of thunderstorms. Earlier, a significant flood event occurred on April 10, 2011, following above-normal snowfall in river basins.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone D have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $12,965 and an average water depth of 5.7 feet. Zone A saw fewer claims but higher average payouts ($34,104) with an average water depth of 2.3 feet. Zone X, typically considered moderate to low risk, also had claims with an average payout of $23,940 and an average water depth of 0.3 feet.
Residents in Zone D, as well as those in Zone A and Zone X who have experienced claims, should pay close attention to flood risks.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
14 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Nelson County, North Dakota has recorded 59 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 15 flash floods and 44 river or area floods. The county has received 33 federal disaster declarations, 18 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1965–2025)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Aug 7, 2025 |
| Flooding | Flood | Apr 10, 2023 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Straight-line Winds | Snowstorm | Nov 9, 2022 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 22, 2022 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 29, 2020 |
| Flooding | Flood | Apr 1, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Flooding | Flood | Oct 9, 2019 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 17, 2013 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Sep 21, 2019 | 125.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 20, 2019 | 125.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 23, 2011 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 16, 2011 | 2.00K |
| Flood | Apr 10, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 1, 2011 | 50.00K |
| Flood | Jul 1, 2011 | 50.00K |
| Flood | Aug 1, 2011 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 24, 2010 | 15.00K |
Flash Flood — Sep 21, 2019
By the late afternoon of the 20th, a weak area of surface low pressure set up near Devils Lake, with the warm front extending out to the east-southeast. Temperatures had risen into the mid 70s to low 80s in the warm sector, with dew points in the upper 60s to lower 70s. To the southwest of the low, a cold front extended back toward Bismarck. Just before 5 pm CDT, a fairly solid line of thunders...
Flash Flood — Sep 20, 2019
By the late afternoon of the 20th, a weak area of surface low pressure set up near Devils Lake, with the warm front extending out to the east-southeast. Temperatures had risen into the mid 70s to low 80s in the warm sector, with dew points in the upper 60s to lower 70s. To the southwest of the low, a cold front extended back toward Bismarck. Just before 5 pm CDT, a fairly solid line of thunders...
Flash Flood — Jul 23, 2011
Early in the morning of the 23rd, a squall line moved from central North Dakota, across the Fargo Moorhead area, and into portions of west central Minnesota. It was another warm and muggy night, with dew points still in the low 70s across southeast North Dakota and west central Minnesota. This set up a good instability and moisture gradient from Bismarck (ND) to Aberdeen (SD) into west central ...
Flash Flood — Jul 16, 2011
The 16th was hot and humid with late afternoon temperatures topping out in the 80s to around 90 and dew point temperatures well into the 70s. This created a large amount of instability. By early in the evening, thunderstorms began to flare up again aided by a weak low level jet.
Flood — Apr 10, 2011
The winter of 2010-2011 generally brought above normal amounts of snow to the area, but particularly so for the Devils Lake basin, the Sheyenne River basin, and the Wild Rice River basin. By April 1st, snow water equivalents were estimated to be about four to six inches in these areas with about two to four inches elsewhere. A see-saw pattern of temperatures led to a generally slow April snowme...
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 Nelson County, North Dakota:
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 Nelson County, North Dakota 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.