Enter any address in Ashland County, Wisconsin to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the most frequent type of flooding in Ashland County, WI. Over the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 15 flash flood events and 10 flood events. For example, rapid snowmelt combined with heavy rain in April 2023 caused area waterways to rise quickly. Similarly, in July 2019, slow-moving thunderstorms dropped 1 to 3 inches of rain in a few hours, leading to isolated flash flooding.
Additionally, Ashland County experiences lakeshore flooding due to strong winds off Lake Superior. In October 2019, winds exceeding 70 mph caused waves that damaged lake shore areas. NFIP claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced an average water depth of 14.6 feet and received an average payout of $59,704. Properties in Zone X_UNSHADED have also filed claims, with an average payout of $11,627. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, or those located near waterways and the lakeshore, 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.
Ashland County, Wisconsin has recorded 27 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 15 flash floods and 10 river or area floods. The county has received 14 federal disaster declarations, 5 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1965–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Jun 15, 2018 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 11, 2016 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Jun 20, 2013 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 19, 2012 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Flooding, Severe Storms And Tornadoes | Flood | Apr 10, 2001 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 26, 2000 |
| Flood-07/20/99 | Flood | Jul 4, 1999 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Apr 11, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Lakeshore Flood | Oct 21, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 4, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 27, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 17, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 17, 2018 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Jun 16, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 15, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Lakeshore Flood | Oct 27, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 16, 2017 | 0.00K |
Flood — Apr 11, 2023
Record breaking snowfall for the 2022-2023 winter season was received across all of northwest Wisconsin which was about 200% of normal snowfall. Much of this snowpack remained on the ground into April. Warm temperatures 10 to 20 degrees above normal during the second week of the month led to rapid snowmelt across the region with fast rises on area waterways. This above normal warmth was quickly...
Lakeshore Flood — Oct 21, 2019
An intense area of low pressure approached the region through the day on Monday, October 21st, producing increasingly strong east to northeast winds. The winds increased through the day, and were especially strong coming off Lake Superior into the western South Shore area. Peak wind speeds topped 70 MPH at some of the bridges and waves caused damage along many of the lake shore areas.
Flash Flood — Jul 4, 2019
A slow moving area of low pressure moved from central Minnesota the morning of the 4th to northeastern Wisconsin by the morning of the 5th. Slow moving showers and thunderstorms develop near this low across northwest Wisconsin and dropped 1 to 3 inches of rainfall in a span of a few hours leading to isolated areas of flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Aug 27, 2018
A warm front lifted through Wisconsin the night of the 26th and into the morning of the 27th, leaving a moist and unstable airmass across the region. A cold front in eastern Minnesota pushed east during the afternoon to provide the lift to initiate storms. The storms produced very heavy rain that led to some flooding and also had some damaging winds.
Flood — Jun 17, 2018
Multiple rounds of thunderstorms along a stationary boundary starting Friday, June 15th, and persisting through the day June 16th, acted to saturate soils across northwest Wisconsin. Another round of training storms developed the night of the 16th, fed by a moist low-level jet. Training storms and slow storm motion led to heavy rainfall across Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland and Iron counties. Three...
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 Ashland County, Wisconsin:
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 Ashland County, Wisconsin 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.