Enter any address in Steele County, North Dakota to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Steele County, North Dakota. Recent events include flash flooding on September 20, 2019, caused by slow-moving thunderstorms, and another flash flood event on August 1, 2011, which brought heavy rainfall and strong winds to areas like Hope. Flooding from snowmelt also occurs, as seen on April 16, 2019, when melted snow contributed to flooded low-lying areas.
While the majority of National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims in Steele County have been in Zone X, with an average payout of $26,340 and no reported water depth, one claim in Zone D resulted in an average payout of $3,206. Homeowners in low-lying areas, those near waterways, and properties that have experienced flooding in the past should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
11 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Steele County, North Dakota has recorded 28 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 12 flash floods and 16 river or area floods. The county has received 31 federal disaster declarations, 15 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 |
| Severe Storm, Tornadoes, And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Jun 20, 2025 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Straight-line Winds | Winter Storm | Dec 25, 2023 |
| Flooding | Flood | Apr 10, 2023 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 22, 2022 |
| Flooding | Flood | Apr 1, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Flooding | Flood | Mar 21, 2019 |
| Flooding | Flood | Feb 14, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Sep 20, 2019 | 250.00K |
| Flood | Apr 4, 2019 | 50.00K |
| Flood | Apr 10, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 1, 2011 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 1, 2011 | 25.00K |
| Flood | May 25, 2010 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 22, 2010 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Mar 18, 2010 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 22, 2009 | 5.00K |
| Flood | Apr 6, 2009 | 5.00K |
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...
Flood — Apr 4, 2019
The winter snow melted first on the Minnesota side of the southern Red River Valley. Visible satellite imagery confirmed this fact, showing a distinct snow free north to south band that extended roughly 20 or so miles east of the Red River from Grant to Wilkin to Clay counties. In Fargo, the snow depth fell to zero on April 6th. However, a blizzard from April 10th to 12th brought more snow to t...
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...
Flood — Aug 1, 2011
This episode began late in the evening of July 31st and continued into the early morning hours of August 1st, as severe thunderstorms from central North Dakota moved into eastern North Dakota. Many of these storms showed a bow structure, or a structure indicative of strong winds. The storms were also slow movers and several rounds of them tracked over the same area. Hope, ND, was hit by both st...
Flash Flood — Aug 1, 2011
This episode began late in the evening of July 31st and continued into the early morning hours of August 1st, as severe thunderstorms from central North Dakota moved into eastern North Dakota. Many of these storms showed a bow structure, or a structure indicative of strong winds. The storms were also slow movers and several rounds of them tracked over the same area. Hope, ND, was hit by both st...
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 Steele 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 Steele 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.