Enter any address in Belmont County, Ohio to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms dominates the flood character of Belmont County. Over the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 98 flash flood events and 49 flood events, resulting in 2 deaths. For example, on June 15, 2025, storms produced 2-4 inches of rain in an hour, leading to flash flooding as storms trained over the area. Similar conditions were observed on June 26, 2025, with training storms causing flash flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $15,320 and an average water depth of 6.8 feet. Properties in Zone X_UNSHADED and Zone X_SHADED have also seen significant claims with higher average payouts and water depths. Residents in Zone A, Zone X_SHADED, and Zone X_UNSHADED should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
53 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Belmont County, Ohio has recorded 147 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 98 flash floods and 49 river or area floods. The county has received 22 federal disaster declarations, 7 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1972–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides | Flood | Feb 5, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Feb 14, 2018 |
| Severe Storms | Severe Storm | Jun 29, 2012 |
| Severe Storms And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Jun 29, 2012 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 4, 2011 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Dec 22, 2004 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Aug 27, 2004 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 26, 2025 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 26, 2025 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 15, 2025 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 2, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 2, 2024 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Apr 2, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 1, 2024 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 29, 2022 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 29, 2022 | 10.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 26, 2025
A warm, moist airmass remained in place through the latter half of the month which allowed for daily shower and thunderstorm chances. Training storms was the primary factor to the resultant flash flooding as cells developed upshear of the initial updrafts in West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. One of these storms did result in yet another round of flash flooding for portions of Wheeling WV.
Flash Flood — Jun 15, 2025
Stationary boundary and near climatological max precpitable water led to another round of showers and thunderstorms with very heavy rainfall on the 15th. With weak steering flow, storms were allowed to train over one another, producing rainfall amounts in the 2-4 inches range in as little as an hour.
Flash Flood — Apr 2, 2024
Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms prompted a widespread flash flood problems across the Ohio River Valley on April 2nd to April 3rd. The synoptic pattern across the CONUS was a slow moving and deep elongated trough over the Great Plains phasing with a ejecting trough over the Midwest that created an area of converging moisture over eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Overall, over ...
Flood — Apr 2, 2024
Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms prompted a widespread flash flood problems across the Ohio River Valley on April 2nd to April 3rd. The synoptic pattern across the CONUS was a slow moving and deep elongated trough over the Great Plains phasing with a ejecting trough over the Midwest that created an area of converging moisture over eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Overall, over ...
Flood — Apr 1, 2024
Training showers created isolated flooding in portions of the region early Monday morning (April 1st). Convection originated in the Midwest along a stationary boundary. With zonal flow over Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, due to an elongated trough over the West Coast, convection trained from west to east. CoCoRaHS observers measured 1.50 to 2 inches of rain along I-70.
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 Belmont County, Ohio:
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 Belmont County, Ohio 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.