Enter any address in Spokane County, Washington to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow is the dominant flood character in Spokane County. Between 1996 and 2023, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 36 flood events and 15 flash flood events. For example, in February 2025, an atmospheric river combined with snowmelt caused significant flooding. Rivers such as the Little Spokane River at Dartford crested at 5.82 feet, and Latah Creek at Spokane reached 12.82 feet.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone X have experienced the highest average payouts ($76,266) with an average water depth of 6.6 feet, despite Zone A having more total claims. Homeowners in or near floodplains, particularly those adjacent to rivers like the Latah Creek or Little Spokane River, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
25 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Spokane County, Washington has recorded 51 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 15 flash floods and 36 river or area floods. The county has received 28 federal disaster declarations, 7 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1964–2023)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon Fire | Fire | Aug 19, 2023 |
| Gray Fire | Fire | Aug 18, 2023 |
| Wildfires | Fire | Aug 18, 2023 |
| Andrus Fire | Fire | Jul 5, 2021 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Dec 29, 2020 |
| Babb Fire | Fire | Sep 7, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Upriver Beacon Fire | Fire | Jul 17, 2018 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides | Flood | Jan 30, 2017 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Feb 23, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 23, 2025 | 5.00K |
| Flood | Feb 23, 2025 | 0.50K |
| Flood | Feb 22, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 27, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 26, 2022 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Jun 12, 2022 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Jun 12, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 5, 2022 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 5, 2022 | 180.00K |
Flood — Feb 23, 2025
A strong atmospheric river moved through the region on February 22-26. Many locations across Eastern Washington received rain amounts 1 to 2 inches over the period. The rain combined with snow melt in the area leading to several reports of flooding from Pullman to Spokane. Little Spokane River at Dartford crested at 5.82 feet. The Latah Creek at Spokane crested at 12.82 feet. The South Fork of ...
Flood — Feb 22, 2025
A strong atmospheric river moved through the region on February 22-26. Many locations across Eastern Washington received rain amounts 1 to 2 inches over the period. The rain combined with snow melt in the area leading to several reports of flooding from Pullman to Spokane. Little Spokane River at Dartford crested at 5.82 feet. The Latah Creek at Spokane crested at 12.82 feet. The South Fork of ...
Flood — May 27, 2023
Another Low brought thunderstorms to the region bringing heavy rains and lightning for May 27, 2023.
Flood — Dec 26, 2022
Rain amounts above an inch and melting snow caused flooding issues in the Spokane and|Oakesdale areas.
Flood — Jun 12, 2022
Another trough system brought a round of slow moving stratiform slow moving showers. With the abundant amount of precipitation from earlier in the month, the streams and creeks were already near bank full. The additional 1 inch of precipitation starting to create problems for low lying areas in the Southeast WA and Lower ID Panhandle.
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 Spokane 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 Spokane 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.