Enter any address in Preston County, West Virginia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Preston County. In the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 72 flash flood events compared to 16 general flood events. For example, on June 15, 2025, storms produced rainfall rates of 2-4 inches per hour, impacting several counties. Another event on July 27, 2025, saw rainfall rates up to 2 inches per hour with storm totals of 3-4 inches in urban areas, leading to flash flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A and Zone X_SHADED have experienced significant payouts. Claims in Zone X_SHADED averaged $13,365 with an average water depth of 6.2 feet. Properties in Zone UNKNOWN also saw high average payouts of $10,542 with an average water depth of 3.7 feet. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, Zone X_SHADED, and Zone UNKNOWN should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
28 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Preston County, West Virginia has recorded 88 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 72 flash floods and 16 river or area floods. The county has received 24 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 Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Apr 2, 2024 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Jun 29, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Mud/Landslide | Feb 14, 2018 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Jul 28, 2017 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 29, 2012 |
| Severe Storms | Severe Storm | Jun 29, 2012 |
| Severe Storms And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Jun 29, 2012 |
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 27, 2025 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 15, 2025 | 15.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 15, 2025 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 7, 2025 | 5.00K |
| Flood | Apr 3, 2024 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Apr 3, 2024 | 250.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 13, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 1, 2021 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 27, 2025
Morning showers congealed into a cluster of thunderstorms along the Mason Dixon line in the early afternoon hours. A very moisture rich environment with mid 70s dew points, highly anomalous PWAT values up to 2.3, and 3000 J/kg MUCAPE resulted in flash flooding. Observed and radar estimated rainfall rates reached as high as 2 inches per hour and storm totals of 3-4 inches around urban areas.
Flash Flood — Jun 15, 2025
Following the catastrophic flooding that occurred in portions of Wheeling, WV late on the 14th, another round of slow moving storms developed along a stationary boundary over portions of northern West Virginia. With climatologically high precipitable water values, rainfall was efficient, allowing for 2-4 inch/hr rates. This impacted several counties in northern West Virginia but the hardest hit...
Flash Flood — Jun 7, 2025
A very moist airmass and a nearly stationary front resulted in rounds of thunderstorms that produced flash flooding on June 6th into the morning hours of the 7th. This included reports of flooding in Marion, Monongalia, and Preston counties in West Virginia.
Flood — Apr 3, 2024
Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms prompted a widespread flash flood problems across the Ohio River Valley on April 2nd to April 3rd. The synoptic pattern across the CONUS was a slow moving and deep elongated trough over the Great Plains phasing with a ejecting trough over the Midwest that created an area of converging moisture over eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Overall, over ...
Flash Flood — Jun 13, 2021
An advancing cold front, along with shortwave support, created the chance for thunderstorms across the region. Sufficient shear (40kts in the 0-6km layer), moderate to high instability (1500-2000 J/kg of CAPE), and dry mid-level air resulted in damaging winds and hail. Flash flooding occurred, mostly south of Pittsburgh, with training storms.
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 Preston 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 Preston 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.