Enter any address in Chittenden County, Vermont to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events dominates the flood character in Chittenden County. Between 2020 and 2024, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 36 flash flood events, alongside 42 general flood events and 5 lakeshore flood events. For example, heavy rainfall associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Beryl caused locally severe flash flooding across the region in July 2024. Another event on May 17, 2025, resulted in 2 to 3 inches of rain from thunderstorms, leading to flash flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $17,609 and an average water depth of 5.5 feet. Properties in Zone X also show significant claims, averaging $14,098 with 4.4 feet of water depth. Homeowners in Zone A, Zone X, and those in areas with unknown flood zone designations should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
59 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Chittenden County, Vermont has recorded 83 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 36 flash floods and 42 river or area floods. The county has received 32 federal disaster declarations, 10 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Depression Debby | Tropical Storm | Aug 8, 2024 |
| Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Jul 9, 2024 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Jan 9, 2024 |
| Flooding | Flood | Jul 9, 2023 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Jul 7, 2023 |
| Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 22, 2022 |
| Tropical Storm Henri | Hurricane | Aug 22, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | Oct 31, 2019 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 17, 2025 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 11, 2024 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 10, 2024 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 10, 2024 | 200.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 10, 2024 | 250.00K |
| Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 200.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 16, 2023 | 50.00K |
| Flood | Jul 16, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 31, 2019 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Nov 1, 2019 | 150.00K |
Flash Flood — May 17, 2025
A weak area of low pressure and associated front moved across northern NY and Vermont during the afternoon and evening hours of May 17th. This system moved across a relatively unstable airmass across the region that resulted in numerous showers and thunderstorms.||Some of the thunderstorms were severe with damaging winds and large hail upward of golf ball size (1.75 inches diameter). In additio...
Flash Flood — Jul 11, 2024
The remnants of TS Beryl combined with deep tropical moisture and a stationary front draped across the region produced multiple rounds of heavy showers and storms. This led to numerous reports of flash flooding, some locally severe across a roughly 50 mile swath through Chittenden, Washington, Lamoille, Caledonia, Orleans and Essex Counties.
Flash Flood — Jul 10, 2024
The remnants of TS Beryl combined with deep tropical moisture and a stationary front draped across the region produced multiple rounds of heavy showers and storms. This led to numerous reports of flash flooding, some locally severe across a roughly 50 mile swath through Chittenden, Washington, Lamoille, Caledonia, Orleans and Essex Counties.
Flood — Dec 18, 2023
A very deep trough across the eastern seaboard allowed a deep, mild, moist flow from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic ocean to feed into the northeast United States, including VT and NY on December 17th and 18th.||Surface low pressure across Florida on December 17th moved north along the eastern seaboard into New England on December 18th. Mild, moist air delivered 1.5 to 3+ inches of rainfal...
Flash Flood — Jul 16, 2023
Showers and thunderstorms with heavy rainfall trained across portions of northern VT during the evening of July 16 dropping two to four inches of rain in some areas.
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 Chittenden County, Vermont:
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 Chittenden County, Vermont 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.