Enter any address in Madison County, Tennessee to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding is the dominant flood character in Madison County, TN, with 67 such events recorded in the last 30 years. Other flood types, including general floods and tropical storms, have also occurred. Recent flash flooding events were documented in April 2025 and May 2024, with the latter experiencing multiple instances of heavy rainfall due to an active storm pattern.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $21,686 and an average water depth of 1.8 feet. Properties in Zone X_UNSHADED have seen the highest average payouts at $32,672, though with a lower average water depth of 0.6 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, and those in 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.
26 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Madison County, Tennessee has recorded 84 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 67 flash floods and 16 river or area floods. The county has received 24 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1975–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 22, 2026 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 2, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornado | Severe Storm | Mar 1, 2023 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Tornado | Mar 25, 2021 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 3, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 5, 2014 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Mar 2, 2014 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Associated Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 25, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Apr 3, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 24, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 8, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 8, 2023 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 4, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 28, 2021 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 27, 2021 | 75.00K |
| Flood | Mar 1, 2021 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 1, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 1, 2020 | 25.00K |
Flash Flood — Apr 3, 2025
A significant multi-hazard, multi-day event occurred across the Mid-South from April 2, 2025, to April 8, 2025, producing 35 tornadoes, record flooding, and numerous reports of damaging winds and large hail. A large upper-level trough covered the Western U.S. in early April. A significant piece of energy rotated around the base of the trough and ejected into the Southern Plains and the Middle-...
Flash Flood — May 24, 2024
An active storm pattern as several mid-level shortwaves crossed the region. An MCV lifted east northeast out of the Ozarks across southern Arkansas. The MCV fired up morning convection across the Mid-South with isolated storm coverage in the afternoon. A weak capped environment was broken and steep mid-level lapse rates, roughly 30 knots of shear, and plentiful instability allowed storms to flo...
Flash Flood — Jul 8, 2023
A weak cold front extended from West Tennessee into central Arkansas during the afternoon hours on July 8, 2023. This front was moving slowly south. This feature combined with strong instability and deep moisture resulted in numerous showers and thunderstorms across the Mid-South. Isolated wind damage and flash flooding occurred.
Flash Flood — Aug 4, 2023
A stationary front was situated from southeast Missouri into northwest Tennessee during the early morning hours of August 4, 2023. An extremely unstable airmass was situated along and south of the front with surface-based convective available potential energy values of up to 7000 J/kg. Precipitable water values reached an anomalous 2.3 inches along the boundary. Thunderstorms developed across s...
Flash Flood — Feb 28, 2021
A cold front pushed into an unstable and very moist airmass to produce numerous showers and thunderstorms north of Interstate 40 during the afternoon of February 28th. Storms eventually evolved into a line and pushed southeast across the Mid-South. A few severe storms occurred. Heavy rainfall over already saturated soils resulting in some flash flooding.
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 Madison County, Tennessee:
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 Madison County, Tennessee 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.