Enter any address in Lynchburg city, Virginia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the most frequent type of flood event in Lynchburg city County, VA, with 46 such events recorded in the last 30 years, alongside 3 tropical storm events. Recent examples include a flash flood event on August 8th, 2024, associated with the remnants of Hurricane Debbie, and a flood event on September 25th, 2024, caused by a slow-moving frontal system.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $33,817 and an average water depth of 11.5 feet. Zone X_SHADED also shows a high average payout of $67,081, though with a lower average water depth of 2.9 feet. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X_SHADED, as well as those in areas with lower-lying terrain or near waterways, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
18 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Lynchburg city, Virginia has recorded 49 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 21 flash floods and 25 river or area floods. The county has received 17 federal disaster declarations, 3 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1972–2026)
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 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Hurricane Isabel | Hurricane | Sep 18, 2003 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Severe Storm | Jan 25, 2000 |
| Hurricane Fran And Associated Severe Storm Cond | Hurricane | Sep 5, 1996 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Sep 25, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 8, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 28, 2023 | 1.50K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 13, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 13, 2023 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 11, 2021 | 25.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 29, 2020 | 5.00K |
| Flood | Nov 11, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 7, 2019 | 0.00K |
Flood — Sep 25, 2024
A nearly stationary front that extended south from West Virginia into Western Virginia and North Carolina Piedmont served as the focus for thunderstorm development during the afternoon of September 25. Some clearing allowed for an increase in instability, but not quite enough to support widespread severe thunderstorms. Favorable upper level divergence was also present over the area as an upper...
Flash Flood — Aug 8, 2024
The remnants of Hurricane Debbie moved north toward the area on August 8th, 2024. A strong southeast flow of wind on the system's northern extent, along with wet soils due to heavy rainfall, helped to cause downed trees and power lines over portions of Virginia. Winds gusted to at least 40 to 45 mph over parts of the region. The strong winds continued into the morning hours of August 9th, 2024....
Flood — Apr 28, 2023
Widespread rainfall associated with a deep low pressure system and associated cold front occurred across the Piedmont region from late in the evening on the 27th through late morning on the 28th. A Strong southerly flow of wind allowed precipitable water values during the early morning hours of the 28th to increase to around 1.3 inches across portions of the Piedmont, which is between the 75th...
Flash Flood — Jul 15, 2023
A trough of low pressure was situated from Buckingham County, VA southeast through Alleghany County, NC during the evening of the 15th, while a cold front was advancing eastward across the mountains. A wave of low pressure passing along the front over western North Carolina served to increase low level winds into the 20 kt-25 kt range from the south, tapping into deep moisture. By 8 pm EDT, ...
Flash Flood — Jul 13, 2023
Upper level low pressure was centered over Hudson Bay to start the day on the 13th, with generally zonal west to east flow from the central Plains through the Mid-Atlantic. A slow-moving cold front was draped across the Ohio River Valley. Early in the day, an upper level disturbance embedded in the upper level windflow was observed crossing southern Ohio and West Virginia, reaching central Vi...
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 Lynchburg city, 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 Lynchburg city, 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.