Enter any address in Southampton County, Virginia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Southampton County. Between July 14-15, 2025, slow-moving storms produced widespread rainfall of 2-4 inches, leading to flash flooding in two rounds. Another event on July 27, 2025, also resulted in localized heavy rainfall and flash flooding across portions of southeast Virginia due to heavy rain rates.
Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 31 flash flood events, alongside 7 flood events, 3 tropical storms, and 1 hurricane. NFIP claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $21,393 and an average water depth of 1.7 feet. Properties in Zone X_SHADED have seen fewer claims but significantly higher average payouts ($254,581) and water depths (2.6 feet). Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X_SHADED should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
8 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Southampton County, Virginia has recorded 42 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 31 flash floods and 7 river or area floods. The county has received 13 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1993–2026)
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 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Hurricane Isabel | Hurricane | Sep 18, 2003 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Severe Storm | Jan 25, 2000 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 27, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 18, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 23, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 23, 2023 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 15, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Nov 12, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 9, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 21, 2016 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 27, 2025
A seasonably humid and unstable environment allowed storms to develop across portions of central and eastern Virginia during the afternoon of July 27. These storms congealed into a line while moving generally southeast to south during the afternoon. Heavy rain rates resulted in locally heavy rainfall and flash flooding across portions of southeast Virginia.
Flash Flood — Jul 18, 2025
A stationary front was draped north of the region with several embedded disturbances aloft moving across the area, resulting in heavy rainfall and flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Jul 15, 2025
A moist and unstable air mass was in place from July 14 through July 15. This allowed for widespread, slow-moving storms to move across portions of central, southern, and southeastern Virginia. These storms produced heavy rain and widespread flash flooding in two rounds. One round was from overnight convection on the night of July 14 into the morning of July 15 and the other round was during th...
Flash Flood — Sep 27, 2024
The combination of moisture from Tropical Cyclone Helene overrunning a frontal boundary produced heavy rain which caused flash flooding across portions of southeast Virginia.
Flash Flood — Sep 23, 2023
Tropical Storm Ophelia tracked northward across east central North Carolina and up through central Virginia from Saturday morning, September 23rd into early Sunday morning, September 24th. Bands of heavy rain associated with the storm caused flash flooding across portions of central and south central 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 Southampton 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 Southampton 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.