Enter any address in Newport News city, Virginia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the most frequent type of flood event in Newport News City County, VA, with 40 recorded instances in the last 30 years. Other flood types include general floods (7 events), coastal floods (6 events), and tropical storms (5 events). Recent examples include flash flooding on July 31, 2025, caused by strong, slow-moving thunderstorms, and coastal flooding on October 12-13, 2025, driven by prolonged northeast winds across the Chesapeake Bay.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows a significant number of claims in Zone A (562 claims) and Zone X (150 claims). While Zone A claims averaged $22,005 with 3.0 ft of water depth, Zone X claims averaged $16,829 with a higher average water depth of 4.3 ft. Properties in Zone X_SHADED saw the highest average payout ($28,520) with an average water depth of 1.1 ft. Homeowners in coastal areas, as well as those in areas designated as Zone A or Zone X, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
9 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Newport News city, Virginia has recorded 58 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 40 flash floods and 7 river or area floods. The county has received 21 federal disaster declarations, 1 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 Matthew | Hurricane | Oct 7, 2016 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 26, 2012 |
| Hurricane Irene | Hurricane | Aug 26, 2011 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Ida And A Nor'east | Severe Storm | Nov 11, 2009 |
| Tropical Depression Ernesto, Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Aug 29, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 31, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Oct 28, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Aug 21, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 18, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Sep 16, 2025 | — |
| Flash Flood | May 14, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Oct 12, 2025 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 28, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 22, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 16, 2023 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 31, 2025
A front was located north of the region and gradually moved south in response to an approaching mid level disturbance. To the south of the front, robust heating of a moist low level airmass resulted in increasing instability by the afternoon and evening hours. Strong, slow moving, convection resulted in areas of strong winds, heavy rainfall, and flash flooding during the late afternoon and even...
Coastal Flood — Oct 28, 2025
Low pressure off the Mid-Atlantic coast combined with high pressure in Canada, resulting in a lengthy period of northeasterly onshore flow. Increasing tidal anomalies resulted in moderate to locally major tidal flooding over an extended period.
Coastal Flood — Aug 21, 2025
Hurricane Erin passed well offshore and combined with high pressure to the north, resulting in a period of strong onshore winds and coastal flooding across eastern Virginia and the Virginia Eastern Shore.
Flash Flood — Aug 18, 2025
Moisture and instability pooled along a nearly stationary frontal boundary across southeast Virginia on August 18. Slow-moving showers and storms trained over the lower Virginia Peninsula region, with flash flooding occurring in the late afternoon and evenings hours.
Coastal Flood — Sep 16, 2025
A coastal low lingered near the North Carolina and Virginia coastline on September 16, slowly moving northwest into the Chesapeake Bay by the evening of September 16. This low brought a prolonged period of elevated northerly winds across the Chesapeake Bay, resulting in widespread moderate to locally major coastal flooding across portions of eastern Virginia.
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 Newport News 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 Newport News 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.