Enter any address in Alleghany County, Virginia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms and general flooding events have been the most frequent types of flood events in Alleghany County over the past 30 years. Recent examples include a flood event on February 15-17, 2025, which followed prolonged rainfall and unusual warmth, leading to minor river flooding across western Virginia. Another event on July 16, 2025, saw a severe thunderstorm produce flash flooding in the region.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A and Zone UNKNOWN have experienced a significant number of claims. Zone A properties had an average of 5.5 feet of water depth, while Zone UNKNOWN properties had an average of 2.9 feet of water depth, with the highest average payout. Homeowners in these zones, as well as those in Zone X and X_UNSHADED, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
23 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Alleghany County, Virginia has recorded 40 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 23 flash floods and 16 river or area floods. The county has received 25 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 (1969–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 22, 2026 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Florence | Hurricane | Sep 13, 2018 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 26, 2012 |
| Severe Storms And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Jun 29, 2012 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Dec 18, 2009 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 23, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding From The Remanants Of Hurricane Jeanne | Severe Storm | Sep 27, 2004 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 16, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 16, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 17, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 17, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 17, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 27, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 16, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 12, 2018 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 16, 2025
A hot and humid air mass combined with orographical lift to produce a severe thunderstorm in Bath County of southwest Virginia. Damaging wind gusts from this storm blew down two trees west of Nimrod Hall.
Flood — Feb 16, 2025
A deep upper level trough was observed exiting the southern Rockies during the morning of February 15th, with southwesterly windflow ahead of the trough allowing for a fetch of deep moisture from the western Gulf of America. This moisture pooled along a warm front situated across from Kentucky into southwest Virginia, where precipitable water values increased from 0.6 to 0.7 inches at 7 am that...
Flood — Feb 15, 2025
A deep upper level trough was observed exiting the southern Rockies during the morning of February 15th, with southwesterly windflow ahead of the trough allowing for a fetch of deep moisture from the western Gulf of America. This moisture pooled along a warm front situated across from Kentucky into southwest Virginia, where precipitable water values increased from 0.6 to 0.7 inches at 7 am that...
Flood — Feb 17, 2023
Prolonged rainfall over a 24- to 25-hour period ended around 8 AM EST on February 17th, which resulted in localized minor river flooding across portions of western Virginia. Unusual warmth during most of the river meant no frozen ground, snow cover or river ice in the area. However, MRMS CREST indicated that the ground was still 50 to 75 percent saturated from widespread rainfall during the 12t...
Flash Flood — Jun 19, 2020
A broad closed upper low drifted across South Carolina and northwest back into southwest Virginia and West Virginia bringing persistent rainfall that eventually led to flooding. There were repeated rounds of heavy rainfall with widespread amounts of 2 to 5 inches, with isolated totals over 10 inches in a 3-day period in parts of Halifax County, VA.
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 Alleghany County, Virginia:
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 Alleghany County, Virginia 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.