Enter any address in Jefferson County, Wisconsin to see its FEMA flood zone
Jefferson County experiences a mix of flood types, with 39 flood events and 16 flash flood events recorded by NOAA over the past 30 years. Recent examples include river flooding in late June 2024, following high river levels and heavy rainfall, and earlier in June 2024 due to continued high river levels and additional rainfall. March 2019 saw river flooding caused by snowmelt and runoff on frozen ground, exacerbated by ice jams, which necessitated evacuations.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $23,106 and an average water depth of 8.4 feet. While Zone X_UNSHADED and Zone X have fewer claims, their average payouts are higher, suggesting potential for significant damage. Properties in Zone X_SHADED have shown the deepest average water levels at 20.0 feet, though with fewer claims.
Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, as well as those residing near rivers or in areas prone to flash flooding, should pay close attention to flood risk. Properties in Zone X_SHADED and Zone X may also be subject to substantial damage, as indicated by claim data.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
35 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Jefferson County, Wisconsin has recorded 55 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 16 flash floods and 39 river or area floods. The county has received 13 federal disaster declarations, 2 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, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 5, 2008 |
| Record Snow And Near Record Snow | Snowstorm | Feb 5, 2008 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Aug 18, 2007 |
| 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 & Hail | Severe Storm | Jul 7, 1991 |
| Drought | Drought | Jun 17, 1976 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jun 25, 2024 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Jun 5, 2024 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Jul 4, 2024 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 3, 2024 | 5.00K |
| Flood | Jul 1, 2024 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Mar 17, 2019 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Mar 15, 2019 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Mar 14, 2019 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Mar 14, 2019 | 5.00K |
| Flood | Oct 7, 2019 | 5.00K |
Flood — Jun 25, 2024
Already high river levels, and additional heavy rainfall the evening of June 22nd, led to more river flooding late in June into July over portions of southern WI.
Flood — Jun 5, 2024
High river levels continued from May into June with additional rounds of heavy rainfall early in June leading to river flooding.
Flood — Jul 4, 2024
River flooding from late June continued into early July.
Flash Flood — Jun 3, 2024
A slow moving warm front brought multiple rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall from late morning on June 3rd into the early morning hours of June 4th. Areas of flooding did occur along with some wind damage.
Flood — Jul 1, 2024
River flooding from late June continued into early July.
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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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.