2 federal flood & hurricane disasters
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Sterling County, Texas. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Flash flooding from severe weather events dominates the flood history of Sterling County, Texas, backed by a recorded mix of thirteen flash flood events, four general flood events, and one tropical depression over the last 30 years.
Significant weather systems have repeatedly produced heavy rainfall and subsequent inundation across the area. For example, a slow-moving cold front and deep upper trough generated very heavy rainfall in the Concho River watershed, resulting in river flooding near Sterling City in October 2015. Similarly, rounds of showers and thunderstorms driven by a slow-moving upper-level low pressure center produced flash flooding in May 2014.
Properties situated near the Concho River watershed, low-lying areas prone to rapid runoff, and homes lacking adequate base flood elevation data should pay the most attention to local flood risks during slow-moving frontal boundaries and severe thunderstorm developments.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
1 NOAA storm reports from Sterling County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Texas flood stories →
14 federal disaster declarations since 1993, 2 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Apr 26, 2024 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Feb 11, 2021 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Feb 11, 2021 |
| Wildfires | Apr 6, 2011 |
| Wildfires | Mar 14, 2008 |
| Extreme Wildfire Threat | Nov 27, 2005 |
| Hurricane Rita | Sep 23, 2005 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Aug 29, 2005 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
18 since 1996: 13 flash floods and 4 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Apr 19, 2025 | — |
| Flash Flood | Oct 22, 2015 | — |
| Flood | May 26, 2014 | — |
| Flash Flood | Apr 7, 2012 | — |
| Tropical Depression | Aug 16, 2007 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 2, 2007 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 1, 2007 | — |
| Flood | Aug 15, 2005 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flood · Apr 19, 2025. The combination of a stationary front, surface dryline and an upper level low pressure system to the west resulted in many severe thunderstorms developing on the afternoon and evening along the stationary front on April 19th. Also, moderate to strong instability and strong vertical wind shear helped with the severe storm development. The severe storms produced very large hail and damaging winds and a few tornadoes…
Flash Flood · Oct 22, 2015. A slow moving cold front and a deep upper trough resulted in isolated severe thunderstorm reports. However, these systems interacted with plenty of moisture and resulted in very heavy rain and several reports of flash flooding across portions of West Central Texas. Very heavy rainfall in the Concho River watershed resulted in river flooding near Sterling City.
Flood · May 26, 2014. A slow moving large upper level low pressure center approached West Central Texas through the period. Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms developed across the area and resulted in damaging winds, hail, and flash flooding.
Flash Flood · Apr 7, 2012. A stalled frontal boundary across the Concho Valley and the Big Country, resulted in the development of severe thunderstorms. These storms produced isolated tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail. One of the storms became a long tracked supercell that tracked from north of Sterling City south through Crockett County.
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in Sterling County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.