Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed. Every one the National Weather Service has filed, by year and by state, with the deadliest and costliest.
The deadliest and costliest on the map
The deadliest and costliest flash flood episodes on record.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 111,974
- Deaths
- 2,206
- Injuries
- 6,609
- Damage
- $105 billion
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
Every year
Deaths each year
The deadliest
Deaths from this kind of event within each episode.
- Flash Flooding in Texas, July 4, 2025Tropical Storm Barry moved into and dissipated over eastern Mexico. Moist air from the remnants of Barry moved northward into Texas. Precipitable water values over South-Central Texas increased to near record levels.
- Tornado and Tropical Storm in North Carolina, September 25 to 29, 2024Tropical Cyclone Helene began organizing over the western Caribbean on the 23rd and 24th of September before rapidly intensifying as it moved north through the eastern Gulf of Mexico on the 25th and 26th.
- Tornadoes and Tropical Storm in Texas, August 25 to 31, 2017Harvey made landfall as a category 4 hurricane near Rockport, Texas during the evening of August 25th.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Kentucky, July 27 to 30, 2022Between July 25th and July 30th, 2022, several complexes of training thunderstorms developed south of I-64 and brought heavy rain, deadly flash flooding, and devastating river flooding to eastern Kentucky and central Appalachia.
- Flash Flooding in Texas, October 17 to 19, 1998The Great October FloodIn advance of a very slow-moving upper level trough of low pressure over West Texas, a cold front drifted slowly southeastward into West Central Texas during the evening of Friday, October 16th.
- Hurricane and Flash Flooding in Puerto Rico, September 20 to 22, 2017Hurricane Maria was a catastrophic category 4 hurricane which devastated the island of Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017. Maximum sustained winds of 175 mph as it was approaching the county warning area.
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in Tennessee, August 21, 2021The deadliest flash flood to ever affect Middle Tennessee, and one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the state, struck the region on Saturday, August 21, 2021.
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in Arkansas, June 9 to 11, 2010A slow-moving upper level low pressure system was over east Texas on the 9th, over northeast Texas on the 10th, and over Arkansas on the 11th. Thunderstorms associated with this low produced severe weather and heavy rain at times.
- Flash Flooding in Utah, September 14, 2015Multiple strong thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall moved through southwest Utah on September 14, creating significant flash flooding in Hildale, Utah and Zion National Park.
- Flash Flooding in North Carolina, September 15 to 16, 1999Rainfall associated with Hurricane Floyd produced unprecedented flash flooding across the eastern half of the state. Every river and stream flooded nearby roads and communities.
- Tropical Storm and Storm Surge in Texas, August 26 to 31, 2017Harvey moved across the Gulf of Mexico into the central Texas Coast during the last week of August. After the initial landfall, the cyclone moved back into the gulf a couple days later and then made another landfall in Southwest Louisiana during the morning of the 30th.
- Flash Flooding in New York, September 1 to 2, 2021Extremely heavy rainfall associated with the remnants of Hurricane Ida overspread southeast New York during the evening of September 1 and continued through the early morning hours of September 2.
- Flash Flooding in New Jersey, September 1 to 2, 2021Post Tropical Cyclone Ida brought heavy rain to New Jersey on September 1. Rainfall totals were as high as 5 to 10 inches. The heavy rain caused significant flash flooding, mainly in the northern half of the state. It resulted in widespread property damage.
- Flash Flooding in West Virginia, June 23, 2016One of the worst flash floods in the history of West Virginia occurred on June 23, 2016 as extreme rainfall occurred across portions of Greenbrier and several adjacent counties.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, May 23 to 24, 2015An upper level shortwave trough moved around the longwave low over the Four Corners region. This upper distubance interacted with a surface boundary moving northward as a warm front from South Texas into a very moist airmass.
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in Tennessee, September 25 to 29, 2024Tropical Storm Helene caps off a several day heavy rainfall event in association with a stalled closed upper low that drew a stream of tropical moisture into the area on the 25th and 26th.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, June 11 to 12, 2025A mid-level shortwave trough moved over Texas and combined with an abnormally moist airmass to generate thunderstorms. These storms were very efficient rain producers dropping locally heavy rain that led to flash flooding. There were also a few severe thunderstorms.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Oklahoma, May 31, 2013A tornado outbreak occurred during the late afternoon and early evening hours of the 31st. A stalled front and deeply mixed dryline served as a focus for thunderstorm development. The front/dryline triple point was where the most intense supercells initiated.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in New Jersey, September 1 to 3, 2021Extremely heavy rainfall associated with the remnants of Hurricane Ida overspread northeast New Jersey during the evening of September 1 and continued through the early morning hours of September 2.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Missouri, December 26 to 28, 2015A slow moving and strong weather system caused several rounds of very heavy and record breaking rainfall to occur across the Missouri Ozarks which led to historic and deadly flooding.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Arizona, August 3 to 31, 1997Flash flooding of state highway 99 south of Leupp. Two drainage ditches and a small stock pond filled rapidly with water which then flowed across highway 99, 2 miles south of Leupp. Arizona Dept.
- Flash Flooding and Flood in South Carolina, October 3 to 7, 2015Heavy rain in the Midlands...Pee Dee produced flash flooding in across the area. Numerous dams were breached along with numerous bridge and roadways flooded and damaged.
- Flash Flooding in Missouri, October 4 to 5, 1998Thunderstorms containing very heavy rainfall over West Central Missouri on October 4th resulted in several episodes of major flash flooding. The most deadly and costly flooding occurred in Jackson County where nine people lost their lives on the evening of October 4th.
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Arizona, July 15, 2017Thunderstorms caused flash flooding, hail, and wind damage across southern Yavapai and northern Gila Counties.
- Flash Flooding in Texas, August 23 to 24, 1998By nightfall on the 23rd, the central low pressure associated with the remainder of Charley had indeed stalled near Del Rio. A second seige of devastating rain fell between 9 pm and 2 am, producing over 10 inches by midnight.
The costliest
Damage from this kind of event within each episode, in the dollars of its year.
- Tornadoes and Tropical Storm in Texas, August 25 to 31, 2017
- Hurricane and Flash Flooding in Puerto Rico, September 20 to 22, 2017
- Tropical Storm and Storm Surge in Texas, August 26 to 31, 2017
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in Louisiana, August 11 to 27, 2016
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Michigan, August 11 to 13, 2014
- Tornado and Tropical Storm in North Carolina, September 25 to 29, 2024
- Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Hawaii, March 20 to 23, 2026
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Texas, October 23 to 26, 2015
- Flash Flood in Alabama, May 7 to 8, 2003
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Texas, August 21 to 22, 2022
- Flash Flooding in Puerto Rico, September 6 to 7, 2017
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Louisiana, August 12 to 14, 2016
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in Texas, September 18 to 19, 2019
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in California, August 19 to 21, 2023
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in New Mexico, October 18 to 22, 2024
- Hurricane and Tropical Storm in New Jersey, September 16 to 23, 1999
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Louisiana, May 17 to 19, 2021
- Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Illinois, July 2, 2023
- Flash Flooding in Florida, October 15 to 16, 1999
- Flash Flooding in New York, September 1 to 2, 2021
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, June 8 to 9, 2008
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in North Carolina, September 25 to 28, 2024
- Tornadoes and Tropical Storm in Louisiana, September 1 to 3, 2008
- Flash Flooding in Texas, September 18 to 19, 2019
- Flash Flooding and Flood in Ohio, July 27 to 31, 2006
By state
| State or waters | Events | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 13,876 | 548 | 5,094 | $49 billion |
| Missouri | 6,244 | 112 | 46 | $991 million |
| Pennsylvania | 4,743 | 77 | 59 | $2.0 billion |
| Kentucky | 4,580 | 113 | 31 | $308 million |
| Virginia | 4,323 | 43 | 13 | $582 million |
| New York | 4,190 | 60 | 22 | $2.5 billion |
| North Carolina | 4,053 | 147 | 29 | $2.7 billion |
| Arkansas | 3,784 | 68 | 45 | $389 million |
| Mississippi | 3,538 | 19 | 20 | $608 million |
| Arizona | 3,491 | 115 | 178 | $256 million |
| Tennessee | 3,355 | 86 | 51 | $854 million |
| Oklahoma | 3,321 | 66 | 178 | $78 million |
| Illinois | 3,281 | 27 | 17 | $2.5 billion |
| Ohio | 3,240 | 43 | 14 | $1.6 billion |
| Kansas | 2,958 | 21 | 30 | $342 million |
| Louisiana | 2,837 | 28 | 20 | $4.6 billion |
| Alabama | 2,822 | 34 | 24 | $1.2 billion |
| California | 2,785 | 68 | 97 | $1.4 billion |
| Iowa | 2,627 | 10 | 14 | $443 million |
| West Virginia | 2,321 | 57 | 11 | $638 million |
| Indiana | 2,210 | 32 | 8 | $526 million |
| Georgia | 2,209 | 14 | 15 | $183 million |
| Puerto Rico | 2,038 | 71 | 17 | $19 billion |
| New Jersey | 1,846 | 40 | 203 | $1.2 billion |
| South Carolina | 1,775 | 27 | 43 | $200 million |
| New Mexico | 1,751 | 49 | 19 | $633 million |
| Maryland | 1,735 | 22 | 31 | $166 million |
| Colorado | 1,551 | 29 | 75 | $437 million |
| Florida | 1,425 | 9 | 2 | $1.0 billion |
| Minnesota | 1,349 | 15 | 37 | $374 million |
| Nebraska | 1,333 | 6 | 5 | $324 million |
| Utah | 1,214 | 43 | 43 | $157 million |
| Wisconsin | 1,070 | 14 | 21 | $1.6 billion |
| South Dakota | 839 | 4 | 8 | $56 million |
| Nevada | 765 | 13 | 15 | $139 million |
| Connecticut | 619 | 5 | 0 | $24 million |
| Massachusetts | 609 | 0 | 0 | $92 million |
| Hawaii | 570 | 17 | 17 | $1.4 billion |
| North Dakota | 557 | 5 | 2 | $252 million |
| Michigan | 541 | 6 | 8 | $2.6 billion |
| Vermont | 481 | 8 | 4 | $544 million |
| Montana | 476 | 1 | 5 | $19 million |
| Maine | 451 | 3 | 2 | $65 million |
| New Hampshire | 430 | 5 | 6 | $93 million |
| Wyoming | 375 | 5 | 6 | $22 million |
| Idaho | 322 | 2 | 1 | $34 million |
| Delaware | 255 | 4 | 6 | $32 million |
| Washington | 202 | 2 | 2 | $20 million |
| American Samoa | 125 | 5 | 9 | $71 million |
| Rhode Island | 124 | 0 | 3 | $3.7 million |
| District of Columbia | 118 | 0 | 2 | $17 million |
| Oregon | 112 | 1 | 1 | $1.9 million |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 64 | 0 | 0 | $2.5 million |
| Alaska | 44 | 6 | 0 | $21 million |
| Guam | 20 | 1 | 0 | $6.8 million |
Every kind of event
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Hail
- Flash Flood
- High Wind
- Winter Storm
- Drought
- Winter Weather
- Tornado
- Heavy Snow
- Flood
- Marine Thunderstorm Wind
- Heat
- Heavy Rain
- Strong Wind
- Excessive Heat
- Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
- Cold/Wind Chill
- Lightning
- Dense Fog
- Blizzard
- Frost/Freeze
- Ice Storm
- High Surf
- Funnel Cloud
- Wildfire
- Tropical Storm
- Waterspout
- Coastal Flood
- Lake-Effect Snow
- Debris Flow
- Hurricane (Typhoon)
- Dust Storm
- Rip Current
- Storm Surge/Tide
- Marine High Wind
- Sleet
- Avalanche
- Marine Hail
- Astronomical Low Tide
- Marine Tropical Storm
- Tropical Depression
- Freezing Fog
- Lakeshore Flood
- Dust Devil
- Marine Strong Wind
- Dense Smoke
- Marine Hurricane/Typhoon
- Volcanic Ashfall
- Seiche
- Sneakerwave
- Volcanic Ash
- Tsunami
- Marine Tropical Depression
- Marine Dense Fog
- Northern Lights
- Marine Lightning
- Hurricane
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.