Enter any address in Suffolk city, Virginia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the most frequent type of flood event in Suffolk city County, VA, with 30 recorded instances in the last 30 years. Other flood types include coastal flooding (8 events), tropical storms (6 events), hurricanes (5 events), and general floods (5 events). For example, a stationary front brought heavy rain and flash flooding to the region on June 15, 2025. Coastal flooding also occurred on October 12-13, 2025, due to strong northeast winds.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A and Zone X have experienced the most claims. Zone A properties had an average payout of $29,877 with an average water depth of 2.8 feet, while Zone X properties had an average payout of $20,170 with an average water depth of 1.9 feet. Properties in Zone V, though fewer in number, experienced higher water depths averaging 4.9 feet. Homeowners in coastal areas, as well as those in low-lying areas or without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE), should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
17 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Suffolk city, Virginia has recorded 54 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 30 flash floods and 5 river or area floods. The county has received 19 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 |
| 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 31, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Aug 21, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Sep 16, 2025 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 14, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Oct 12, 2025 | — |
| Flash Flood | Sep 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 12, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 27, 2022 | 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 — 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.
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.
Flash Flood — Jun 15, 2025
A stationary front was located across central Virginia to northeast North Carolina on June 15. This front slowly moved southwest through the afternoon. Widespread storms developed during the afternoon and continued into the evening on June 15. These storms produced locally heavy rain and flash flooding across portions of central and southeast Virginia. Additionally, an isolated storm produced f...
Flash Flood — Jun 14, 2025
Scattered storms developed across central and southeast Virginia during the afternoon and evening of June 15. These storms were slow-moving and produced locally heavy rain and flooding.
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 Suffolk 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 Suffolk 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.