Enter any address in McDowell County, West Virginia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall is the primary flood hazard in McDowell County, WV. Over the last 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database has recorded 35 flash flood events and 32 general flood events, resulting in 6 fatalities. Recent events include flooding on January 31, 2025, when widespread rainfall caused local creeks and streams to overflow their banks and low-lying areas to experience high water due to backed-up culverts. Another instance of flooding occurred on February 15, 2025, associated with an approaching low-pressure system and warm front that brought substantial rain and thunderstorms.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $14,038 and an average water depth of 4.3 feet. Properties in Zone X, particularly Zone X_SHADED, have also seen significant claims with high average water depths, reaching 12.6 feet in Zone X_SHADED. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, Zone X_SHADED, or those with properties in low-lying areas or near creeks and streams should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
57 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
McDowell County, West Virginia has recorded 67 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 35 flash floods and 32 river or area floods. The county has received 27 federal disaster declarations, 6 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 23, 2026 |
| Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Feb 15, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Jul 12, 2022 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Mar 3, 2015 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 29, 2012 |
| Severe Storms | Severe Storm | Jun 29, 2012 |
| Severe Storms And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Jun 29, 2012 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, And Landslides | Flood | Jun 12, 2010 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jan 31, 2025 | 0.15K |
| Flood | May 17, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 5.00M |
| Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 5.00M (3 deaths) |
| Flood | Feb 1, 2025 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 7, 2024 | 0.50K |
| Flood | May 29, 2023 | 20.00K |
| Flood | Feb 17, 2023 | 1.50K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 8, 2023 | 0.20K |
Flood — Jan 31, 2025
An advancing low pressure system set forth ample amounts of lift and moisture to round out the month of January. Widespread rainfall first entered into the southwestern coalfields of West Virginia on the morning of January 31st, and continued to invade northeastward and up into the higher terrain of the state. Local creeks and streams quickly spilled out of their banks on that day in conjunctio...
Flood — May 17, 2025
A warm front lifted north through West Virginia on May 15th, followed by a cold front approaching from the west and stalling across central Ohio on the 16th. A low pressure system began to pivot northeast out of the Great Lakes region and eventually pushed the cold front eastward across the area on the 17th.||Severe thunderstorms that developed during the afternoon and evening of the 16th produ...
Flood — Feb 15, 2025
Light precipitation started to arrive on the evening of February 14th due to an approaching low pressure system, with more substantial rain spreading across the area overnight into the 15th as a warm front approached from the south. This promoted a brief instance of thunderstorms on the morning of February 15th, with damaging winds knocking down trees and power lines to parts of the state. Whil...
Flash Flood — Feb 15, 2025
Light precipitation started to arrive on the evening of February 14th due to an approaching low pressure system, with more substantial rain spreading across the area overnight into the 15th as a warm front approached from the south. This promoted a brief instance of thunderstorms on the morning of February 15th, with damaging winds knocking down trees and power lines to parts of the state. Whil...
Flood — Feb 1, 2025
A low pressure system brought widespread rainfall to the area on the 31st of January, initiating flooding in poor drainage areas and along local creeks and streams. While rainfall ended the evening of the 31st, high water and river flooding continued into early February. River flooding persisted along the Little Kanawha River through the 1st of February, while the Tygart Valley and Buckhannon R...
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 McDowell County, West 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 McDowell County, West 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.