Enter any address in Salem city, Virginia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense rainfall events is a primary flood concern in Salem city County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 24 flood events and 10 flash flood events, resulting in one reported death. Recent examples include flash flooding on February 15, 2025, driven by deep moisture pooling along a warm front, and river flooding on May 20, 2020, following several days of persistent rainfall that produced totals exceeding 12 inches in some areas.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $25,478 and an average water depth of 2.0 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in areas with unknown flood risk or shaded X zones, should pay particular attention to flood preparedness and potential risks.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
15 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Salem city, Virginia has recorded 35 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 10 flash floods and 24 river or area floods. The county has received 14 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 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding From The Remanants Of Hurricane Jeanne | Severe Storm | Sep 27, 2004 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,floodind, And Mudslide | Severe Storm | Feb 15, 2003 |
| Blizzard Of 96 (severe Snow Storm) | Snowstorm | Jan 6, 1996 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 25, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 20, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 17, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 23, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 17, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 11, 2018 | 250.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 11, 2018 | 200.00K |
| Flood | Jan 23, 2017 | 0.00K |
Flash 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 — 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...
Flood — May 20, 2020
An upper-level low became cut-off over the southern Appalachian region for several days leading to persistent rainfall and eventually some flooding. Four-day (96-hour) rainfall amounts ending at 800 AM EDT on May 22nd ranged from 3 to over 12 inches in the most favored locations. Some of the 11-inch+, 4-day rain totals in Roanoke County were within the 200-year recurrence interval (9.78 to 11.8...
Flood — Jun 17, 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.
Flood — Sep 23, 2018
A slow-moving frontal boundary along with moisture convergence along the Blue Ridge and some modest jet stream support aloft triggered numerous thunderstorms from the late afternoon through late evening hours. These slow-moving storms produced very heavy rainfall from the Blue Ridge out across several piedmont counties. Rainfall totals ranged from 3 to 5 inches with isolated higher amounts appr...
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 Salem 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 Salem 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.