Enter any address in Douglas County, Wisconsin to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense rainfall events is the dominant flood character in Douglas County, Wisconsin. Over the past 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 17 flash flood events and 7 general flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding on September 20, 2021, caused by a line of storms producing heavy rain, and isolated flash flooding on September 30, 2019, where torrential rainfall led to road closures. Another significant flood event occurred on April 11, 2023, driven by rapid snowmelt from a record-breaking winter followed by heavy rain.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A experienced higher average water depths (2.8 ft) and payouts ($22,310) compared to Zone X properties, which had an average water depth of 0.6 ft and payouts of $50,984. However, Zone X properties had more claims. Homeowners in areas prone to rapid rainfall accumulation, those situated near waterways that experience significant rises due to snowmelt or heavy rain, and properties not built to the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
14 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Douglas County, Wisconsin has recorded 24 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 17 flash floods and 7 river or area floods. The county has received 10 federal disaster declarations, 4 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1972–2020)
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 And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 19, 2012 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Flooding, Severe Storms And Tornadoes | Flood | Apr 10, 2001 |
| Flood-07/20/99 | Flood | Jul 4, 1999 |
| Drought | Drought | Jun 17, 1976 |
| Heavy Rains & Flooding | Flood | Sep 10, 1972 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Apr 11, 2023 | 150.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 20, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 8, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 30, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 18, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 18, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 17, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 3, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 11, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 24, 2012 | 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...
Flash Flood — Sep 20, 2021
A cold front moving east across the Upper Midwest propelled a cold front through northwest Wisconsin leading to the development of a line of storms during the afternoon. These storms produced sporadic wind damage and heavy rain and training of the storms led to some minor flash flooding in spots as well. While storms were exhibiting circulation in the low levels, no tornadoes were reported.
Flash Flood — Aug 8, 2020
A complex of storms moved across northwestern Wisconsin during the evening hours of the 7th. A few of the storms were marginally severe and produced small hail and gusty winds. Heavy rainfall combined with the slow movement of the storms lead to some minor flooding in spots.
Flash Flood — Sep 30, 2019
A warm front set up over the region during the early morning hours of the 30th. Torrential rainfall was reported overnight leading to saturated soils in the area. Additional showers and thunderstorms moved over these same areas during the late morning and early afternoon hours and led to some isolated flash flooding in Douglas County Wisconsin where water over the roadway led to a few closed ro...
Flash Flood — Jun 18, 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 Douglas 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 Douglas 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.