Enter any address in Cowlitz County, Washington to see its FEMA flood zone
River flooding is the dominant flood character in Cowlitz County. Recent events include minor river flooding on the Cowlitz River near Kelso and the Grays River near Rosburg in December 2023, following heavy rains from an atmospheric river. In January 2022, strong Pacific fronts caused flooding of mainstem rivers draining the coastal mountains and interior of southwest Washington, with coastal flooding also occurring due to high tides combined with high river levels.
National Flood Insurance Program data shows a significant number of claims across various flood zones. Zone A, which typically has a Base Flood Elevation (BFE), has the highest number of claims at 202, with an average payout of $18,637 and an average water depth of 10.3 feet. Claims in Zone UNKNOWN averaged the highest payout at $23,278 and the deepest water at 16.4 feet. Properties in Zone X_UNSHADED and Zone X also experienced claims with average water depths of 6.1 and 6.6 feet, respectively.
Homeowners and residents in Cowlitz County should pay close attention to their flood risk, particularly those residing in Zone A, near rivers, or in areas designated as Zone UNKNOWN. Properties in Zone X_SHADED and Zone X may also be subject to flooding, as indicated by historical claims data.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
5 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Cowlitz County, Washington has recorded 27 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database. The county has received 22 federal disaster declarations, 11 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1964–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Jan 5, 2024 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-line Winds, Floodin | Flood | Dec 26, 2021 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Dec 29, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, And A T | Flood | Dec 1, 2015 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, And Flooding | Flood | Jan 6, 2009 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Record And Near Record Snow | Severe Storm | Dec 12, 2008 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Nov 2, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Coastal Storm | Aug 29, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Dec 6, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 6, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 1, 2022 | 25.00K |
| Flood | Jan 13, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Nov 11, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 17, 2020 | 250.00M |
| Flood | Feb 12, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 28, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 15, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 9, 2017 | 0.00K |
Flood — Dec 6, 2023
A strong atmospheric river brought heavy rains on December 5th which led to minor river and urban flooding across portions of southwest Washington. Clark County and Cowlitz County saw landslides, along with minor river flooding, including the Cowlitz River at Kelso and the Grays River near Rosburg. Portions of the Willapa Hills and south Washington Cascades received 12 to 16 inches of rain over...
Flood — Jan 6, 2022
The second in a series of strong Pacific fronts brought another round of heavy rain and resulting flooding of mainstem rivers draining the coastal mountains and interior of southwest Washington. Coastal flooding also occurred at some coastal communities as a result of high astronomical tides combined with high river levels and high seas.
Flood — Mar 1, 2022
A slow moving front in the region brought heavy rain and breezy conditions to the area.
Flood — Jan 13, 2021
A series of strong slow moving fronts brought periods of heavy rain along with strong winds. This resulted in high surf, coastal and river flooding.
Flood — Nov 11, 2021
Heavy rains produced by an atmospheric river brought river flooding to portions of northwest Oregon and southwest Washington.
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 Cowlitz County, Washington:
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 Cowlitz County, Washington 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.