Enter any address in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Westmoreland County. Between 1993 and 2023, NOAA data recorded 238 flash flood events and 84 general flood events. Recent occurrences include flash flooding on June 6, 2025, when multiple rounds of thunderstorms trained over the area due to a moist airmass and stationary boundary. Another flash flood event occurred on July 26, 2025, initiated by a trough and remnant thunderstorm outflows.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $16,609 and an average water depth of 2.1 feet. Properties in Zone X also show a significant number of claims, with an average payout of $15,577, though the average water depth was higher at 3.2 feet. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X, particularly those without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE), should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
187 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania has recorded 322 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 238 flash floods and 84 river or area floods. The county has received 20 federal disaster declarations, 6 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1971–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Jan 22, 2016 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 26, 2012 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms | Snowstorm | Feb 5, 2010 |
| Hurricane Katrina | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Tropical Depression Ivan | Hurricane | Sep 17, 2004 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances | Severe Storm | Sep 8, 2004 |
| Snow | Severe Storm | Feb 14, 2003 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Jan 19, 1996 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 28, 2025 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 26, 2025 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 17, 2025 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 16, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 15, 2025 | 2.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 15, 2025 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 8, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 6, 2025 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 6, 2025 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 1, 2025 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 28, 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 — Jul 26, 2025
A weak trough and remnant outflows initiated afternoon thunderstorms. Initial single cell development across eastern Ohio ultimately congealed along propagating cold pools and surged southeast. A rich moisture environment was in place with 1000-2000 J/kg MLCAPE and near 30 knots of effective shear. The storms rolled into more favorable DCAPE, as high as 1200 J/kg, farther southeast, and repeate...
Flash Flood — Jun 17, 2025
The stalled boundary began to lift north during the day on the 17th but remained the focus of diurnal convection. While the front did eventually shift off to the east on the 18th, additional storms were able to fire with the lingering moist airmass as an upper level disturbance approached.
Flash Flood — Jul 16, 2025
A crossing cold front and weak shortwave passage spawned of scattered clusters of thunderstorms in an environment with 1500-2000 J/kg MLCAPE, >1000 J/Kg DCAPE, and weak deep layer shear. Some storms were severe with damaging wind.
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.
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 Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania:
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 Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania 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.