National Weather ServiceFlash Flood WarningVTEC FF.WArchive to October 1, 2026
Flash Flood Warning: what it means and how often it is issued
The National Weather Service issued 5,219 flash flood warnings in 2025 and 3,924 a year on average in 2008-2025; Texas, Arizona and New Mexico got the most in 2021-2025. 2026 through September: 5,705, 56% above the average of 3,660 for those months in 2008-2025.
What is a flash flood warning?
A flash flood warning means flash flooding is happening or about to happen: water rising fast in streams, streets or dry washes, usually within six hours of heavy rain or a dam or levee failure. A warning means the hazard is happening, about to happen, or very likely: act now to protect people and property.
Source: National Weather Service directives and glossary.
How many flash flood warnings a year?
National count: each flash flood warning counted once, whatever the number of states it covers. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.
The numbers
| Year | Count |
|---|---|
| 2026 (through September) | 5,729 |
| 2025 | 5,219 |
| 2024 | 4,381 |
| 2023 | 3,671 |
| 2022 | 4,346 |
| 2021 | 4,724 |
| 2020 | 2,871 |
| 2019 | 3,679 |
| 2018 | 4,016 |
| 2017 | 3,506 |
| 2016 | 3,480 |
| 2015 | 4,573 |
| 2014 | 3,503 |
| 2013 | 4,440 |
| 2012 | 2,632 |
| 2011 | 3,732 |
| 2010 | 4,060 |
| 2009 | 3,921 |
| 2008 | 3,870 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
When in the year?
Sum of 2008-2025; the busiest month is labelled.
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
Which states get the most flash flood warnings?
Yearly average per state, 2021-2025. A flash flood warning covering two states counts in both.
| State | A year, 2021-2025 | A year, 2008-2025 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 490 | 425 | 747 |
| Arizona | 468 | 275 | 276 |
| New Mexico | 295 | 165 | 426 |
| California | 213 | 177 | 236 |
| Virginia | 187 | 126 | 333 |
| Colorado | 175 | 116 | 119 |
| Louisiana | 167 | 125 | 166 |
| Missouri | 162 | 200 | 176 |
| Arkansas | 159 | 195 | 246 |
| Kentucky | 148 | 141 | 226 |
| Oklahoma | 140 | 124 | 245 |
| North Carolina | 140 | 131 | 144 |
| Pennsylvania | 136 | 111 | 240 |
| Mississippi | 132 | 181 | 103 |
| Tennessee | 127 | 121 | 200 |
| Alabama | 116 | 115 | 102 |
| Illinois | 109 | 129 | 134 |
| West Virginia | 109 | 79 | 186 |
| New York | 107 | 92 | 97 |
| Utah | 106 | 73 | 58 |
| Florida | 105 | 64 | 89 |
| Georgia | 99 | 74 | 96 |
| Kansas | 87 | 119 | 121 |
| Puerto Rico | 75 | 68 | 87 |
| Ohio | 74 | 73 | 115 |
| Nevada | 67 | 68 | 62 |
| New Jersey | 57 | 46 | 62 |
| South Carolina | 55 | 47 | 54 |
| Nebraska | 50 | 65 | 46 |
| Indiana | 48 | 77 | 78 |
| Iowa | 48 | 86 | 68 |
| Maryland | 46 | 47 | 67 |
| Wisconsin | 28 | 35 | 40 |
| Massachusetts | 28 | 23 | 19 |
| Hawaii | 27 | 35 | 13 |
| Minnesota | 26 | 36 | 46 |
| Connecticut | 24 | 19 | 10 |
| Idaho | 23 | 21 | 10 |
| Montana | 22 | 21 | 25 |
| South Dakota | 22 | 36 | 26 |
| Maine | 20 | 16 | 6 |
| New Hampshire | 19 | 15 | 6 |
| Vermont | 17 | 13 | 8 |
| Wyoming | 16 | 21 | 10 |
| Michigan | 13 | 17 | 19 |
| Delaware | 13 | 12 | 23 |
| Washington | 12 | 12 | 4 |
| North Dakota | 9 | 15 | 12 |
| District of Columbia | 7 | 6 | 9 |
| Oregon | 7 | 5 | 8 |
| Rhode Island | 7 | 5 | 4 |
| Alaska | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
The latest flash flood warnings in AreaZine's record
NWS Midland/OdessaWarningOctober 1, 2026
Flash Flood Warning: Pecos and Terrell, TX
In force until 4:15 a.m. CDT, October 1, 2026
NWS NormanWarningOctober 1, 2026
Flash Flood Warning: Carter, Johnston, Love and 2 more, OK
In force until 5:45 a.m. CDT, October 1, 2026
NWS Austin/San AntonioWarningOctober 1, 2026
Flash Flood Warning: Val Verde, TX
In force until 8:00 a.m. CDT, October 1, 2026
NWS San AngeloWarningOctober 1, 2026
Flash Flood Warning: Sutton, TX
In force until 6:15 a.m. CDT, October 1, 2026
NWS NormanWarningOctober 1, 2026
Flash Flood Warning: Garvin, Johnston, Murray and 1 more, OK
In force until 6:15 a.m. CDT, October 1, 2026
NWS San AngeloWarningOctober 1, 2026
Flash Flood Warning: Brown and Coleman, TX
In force until 6:15 a.m. CDT, October 1, 2026
NWS San AngeloWarningOctober 1, 2026
Flash Flood Warning: Kimble, TX
In force until 6:00 a.m. CDT, October 1, 2026
NWS San AngeloWarningOctober 1, 2026
Flash Flood Warning: Crockett and Sutton, TX
In force until 6:00 a.m. CDT, October 1, 2026
This list is AreaZine's record of the NWS alert feed, kept since April 6, 2026; the counts above come from the complete IEM archive.
Source: National Weather Service alerts (api.weather.gov).
Flash Flood Warning or flash flood watch?
A flash flood watch (for a wide area, hours or days ahead) means the conditions are possible: be ready; a flash flood warning (from the local NWS office, for the area at risk) means the hazard is happening or imminent: act now. A flash flood watch means the rain or conditions that lead to flash flooding are possible in the coming hours. Since 2022 most NWS offices issue a flood watch in its place: the national count fell from 692 in 2021 to 76 in 2022, while flood watches rose from 203 to 715 (IEM archive), so compare the two together. A watch means the conditions for the hazard are possible or favourable, but it is not yet happening: be ready to act if a warning follows. The NWS issued 35 flash flood watches in 2025, against 5,219 flash flood warnings. The flash flood watch record.