Enter any address in York County, Pennsylvania to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in York County. Between 2000 and 2023, NOAA data recorded 96 flash flood events and 43 general flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding with water rescues in July 2025, and another flash flood event in July 2025 that occurred due to saturated soils from prior rainfall.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $14,155 and an average water depth of 4.6 feet. Properties in Zone X and Zone X_UNSHADED also show significant claims with high average water depths. Homeowners in Zone A, Zone X, 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.
25 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
York County, Pennsylvania has recorded 140 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 96 flash floods and 43 river or area floods. The county has received 21 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 (1972–2021)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Remnants Of Hurricane Ida | Hurricane | Aug 31, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Jan 22, 2016 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 4, 2014 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 26, 2012 |
| Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee | Flood | Sep 3, 2011 |
| Tropical Storm Lee | Flood | Sep 3, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms | Snowstorm | Feb 5, 2010 |
| Hurricane Katrina | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 9, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 18, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 1, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 1, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 8, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 31, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 25, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 24, 2018 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 14, 2025
A fairly moist and unstable environment ahead of a shortwave trough allowed for showers and thunderstorms to begin forming across central Pennsylvania during the morning hours of July 14, 2025. Showers and thunderstorms became more numerous into the early afternoon hours, pushing eastward through the evening hours. Saturated soils across eastern Pennsylvania from recent flooding allowed for num...
Flash Flood — Jul 13, 2025
A shortwave trough, moving through an unstable and extremely moist air mass (PWATs over 2.00) over central Pennsylvania, allowed for showers and thunderstorms to develop across the area during the afternoon hours of July 13, 2025. Thunderstorms in this environment began to become strong-to-severe; however, rainfall rates within the thunderstorms were the most notable feature, topping out over t...
Flash Flood — Jul 9, 2025
Convection across southern Pennsylvania began to develop in an unstable and moist environment ahead of a shortwave trough traversing the area during the afternoon and evening hours of July 9, 2025. Storms initially were sub-severe due to lower shear parameters and low-level lapse rates; however, increasing shear and lapse rates allowed for damaging wind potential within an environment of 700-90...
Flash Flood — Aug 18, 2021
The remnants of Tropical Storm Fred brought heavy rain and strong thunderstorms to central Pennsylvania, along with a handful of tornadoes.
Flood — Sep 1, 2021
The remnants of Hurricane Ida produced widespread heavy rainfall across Pennsylvania. Additionally, thunderstorms were observed southeast Of I-81 and the PA Turnpike. One of these storms produced wind damage in Adams County.
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 York 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 York 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.