Enter any address in Medina County, Ohio to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Medina County. Between 2003 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 40 flash flood events and 11 general flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding on August 23, 2023, attributed to an anomalously warm and moist air mass, and on May 14, 2022, associated with a surface trough axis.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A experienced 140 claims with an average payout of $12,189 and an average water depth of 2.9 feet. Properties in Zone X had 55 claims averaging $29,969 and 2.3 feet of water. Notably, Zone X_UNSHADED saw 11 claims with a higher average payout of $10,072 but a significantly deeper average water depth of 9.2 feet. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X_UNSHADED, as well as those without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE) determination, should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
24 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Medina County, Ohio has recorded 51 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 40 flash floods and 11 river or area floods. The county has received 14 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1965–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms | Severe Storm | Jun 29, 2012 |
| 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 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 18, 2004 |
| Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, And High Winds | Tornado | Jul 21, 2003 |
| Severe Storms And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Nov 10, 2002 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 12, 1992 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 23, 2023 | 15.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 14, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 16, 2021 | 75.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 12, 2021 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 10, 2021 | 40.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 10, 2021 | 250.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 7, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 7, 2020 | 1000.00K |
| Flood | Jun 17, 2019 | 12.00M |
| Flash Flood | Jun 17, 2019 | 1.00M |
Flash Flood — Aug 23, 2023
An anomalously-warm and moist air mass was in place across much of the Central Plains and Midwest, resulting in strong to perhaps extreme instability in addition to tropical-like precipitable water values exceeding 2.0 inches. The Lower Great Lakes region, specifically northern Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania found itself on the eastern edge of this heat dome. Strong northwest flow aloft persis...
Flash Flood — May 14, 2022
Northern Ohio resided in the warm sector as a surface trough axis moved generally eastward through the region during the afternoon and early evening of the 14th. Low-level convergence and ascent along the trough axis acted as a focus for the development of isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms. This convection occurred in an environment comprised of weak to moderate MUCAPE and DCAPE, ...
Flash Flood — Jul 16, 2021
A cold front moved southeastward from Lower Michigan to Lake Erie during the evening and overnight of the 15th and then stalled in vicinity of the southern lakeshore by daybreak. This was in response to one surface low moving northeastward from southwestern Quebec toward the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River, while another low moved along the front from eastern Iowa to near the Michigan/Indiana...
Flash Flood — Jul 12, 2021
A stationary boundary was situated from west to east across northern OH on July 12th, 2021, and would lift north to Lake Erie by late afternoon. This allowed for a warm, unstable airmass to reside over the region, with surface dewpoints in the low 70s, and PWAT values in the 1.8 to 1.9 range. MLCAPE values were near 1000 j/kg, with slow storm motions in the 20 to 25 kt. range. Deep layer bulk s...
Flash Flood — Jun 10, 2021
The region was under the influence of a warm, moist airmass due to a southeast CONUS ridge allowing for ample Gulf moisture return northward into the southern Great Lakes. A weak stationary boundary was focused from west to east across northern OH during the afternoon and evening of the 10th. Loosely organized convection formed along the boundary, with efficient warm rain processed due to surfa...
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 Medina 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 Medina 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.