Enter any address in Shelby County, Tennessee to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Shelby County, TN. Between 1996 and 2026, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 193 flash flood events, resulting in 4 fatalities. Recent examples include a flash flood event on June 18, 2025, attributed to a warm, moist airmass and an approaching cold front, and another on April 5, 2025, linked to a sagging front and training storms.
FEMA data shows that while Zone X areas have experienced the highest number of National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims (347), Zone X_UNSHADED areas have seen higher average payouts ($21,961) and deeper average water depths (5.8 ft). Homeowners in Zone X_UNSHADED, as well as those in Zone A and Zone X, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
74 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Shelby County, Tennessee has recorded 215 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 193 flash floods and 21 river or area floods. The county has received 28 federal disaster declarations, 2 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2026)
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 And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Jul 18, 2023 |
| Severe Storms And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Jun 25, 2023 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Dec 22, 2022 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Feb 3, 2022 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 11, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 27, 2017 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 30, 2025 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Jun 28, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 23, 2025 | 15.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 23, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 17, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 8, 2025 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 5, 2025 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 5, 2025 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 30, 2025
A round of showers and thunderstorms occurred late Monday night into Tuesday morning just ahead of a cold front. Combined lift and better shear resulted in a few strong storms. Moisture pooled, resulting in PWATs climbing above 2 inches areawide, which led to high rainfall rates and some minor flooding in urbanized areas.
Flood — Jun 28, 2025
A weak MCV moved slowly from the Southern Plains into the Mid-South and resulted in increased storm coverage during the afternoon and evening hours. The unstable and moist airmass supported some stronger storms with gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall and isolated flooding. The airmass was very moist with PWs approaching 2 inches.
Flash Flood — Sep 23, 2025
A warm front was situated across the Mid-South during the evening of September 23, 2025. Deep moisture combined with sufficient shear and instability near the front resulted in large clusters of showers and thunderstorms. These slow-moving storms produced very heavy rain and caused flash flooding in the Memphis metropolitan area.
Flash Flood — Jun 19, 2025
A very warm, moist, and unstable airmass was in place across the Mid-South ahead of an approaching cold front. Dewpoints ranged from 75 to 80 degrees across the area. As the cold front sagged south, an upper-level disturbance pushed into the region, causing an increase in shear. Convection developed along an old outflow boundary during the late afternoon and evening hours on June 18, 2025. Addi...
Flash Flood — Jul 17, 2025
A stationary front was located just north of the Mid-South during the afternoon of July 17, 2025. A very hot air mass was present south of the boundary with enough moisture to support isolated thunderstorms. A slow-moving storm tracked from northeast to southwest across Shelby County, resulting in flash flooding and some damaging winds.
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 Shelby 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 Shelby 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.