Enter any address in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense rainfall events is the primary flood concern in Eau Claire County. Between 2000 and 2020, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 16 flash flood events and 3 general flood events. For example, on August 7, 2021, thunderstorms produced over 5 inches of rain in a short period, leading to several feet of standing water in some neighborhoods and water in basements. Earlier, on June 9, 2020, remnants of a tropical storm contributed to high rainfall rates and amounts across the area.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A, which have the highest flood risk, have experienced the most claims, averaging $9,543 per payout with an average water depth of 1.3 feet. Properties in less defined or lower-risk zones also incur claims, though typically with lower payouts and water depths. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in areas with unknown flood risk or any properties located near rivers and streams, should pay the most attention to flood preparedness.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
10 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Eau Claire County, Wisconsin has recorded 19 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 16 flash floods and 3 river or area floods. The county has received 9 federal disaster declarations, 3 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1969–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 7, 2004 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 7, 1993 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Jul 24, 1980 |
| Drought | Drought | Jun 17, 1976 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Apr 27, 1973 |
| Flooding | Flood | May 1, 1969 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 7, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 9, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 15, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 21, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 21, 2016 | 660.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 11, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 8, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 6, 2015 | 300.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 26, 2013 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 21, 2013 | 50.00K |
Flash Flood — Aug 7, 2021
During the afternoon and early evening of Saturday, August, 7th, a line of thunderstorms developed across west central Wisconsin. These storms remained nearly stationary for an hour or two and produced over 5 inches of rainfall in a short period of time across Eau Claire. There were social media pictures of standing water over several feet in a few neighborhoods. There were several homes that h...
Flash Flood — Jun 9, 2020
The remnants of tropical storm Cristobal moved north-northeast across eastern Iowa, and into southwest and central Wisconsin during the evening of Tuesday, June 9th. The circulation associated with the system brought record high precipitable water values across parts of the Upper Midwest. These high values combined with a nearly stationary area of showers and embedded thunderstorms that moved f...
Flood — Mar 15, 2019
There were many factors that led to a severe Spring flood melt along the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers and several of their tributaries during the last two weeks of March. The first factor was above average snowpack for mid March. Additionally, the added effect of a cold late Winter kept this snowpack deeper into the early Spring. Once temperatures warmed, and snow began to melt, a few storms ...
Flash Flood — Sep 21, 2016
On the evening of September 20th, a warm front was stretched west to east across southern Minnesota, and southern Wisconsin. The weather pattern, and associated boundaries were nearly stationary through early Thursday morning, September 22nd. The atmosphere was very moist which was evident in the soundings, as near record high Precipitable Water (PWAT) values were noted. ||Although the most sig...
Flash Flood — Aug 11, 2016
Several waves of thunderstorms that moved across southern Minnesota, and into west central Wisconsin between the late afternoon of Wednesday, August 10th, through Thursday morning, August 11th, caused damage near Ellsworth. Flash flooding also occurred along the Pepin, Buffalo, Trempealeau, and Eau Claire Counties lines. The worst flood areas were in Buffalo and Trempealeau Counties, but road c...
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 Eau Claire 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 Eau Claire 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.