National Weather ServiceFlash Flood WatchVTEC FF.AArchive to October 16, 2026
Flash Flood Watch: what it means and how often it is issued
The National Weather Service issued 35 flash flood watches in 2025 and 496 a year on average in 2008-2025; Colorado, California and Texas got the most in 2021-2025. 2026 through September: 54, 88% below the average of 444 for those months in 2008-2025.
What is a flash flood watch?
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.
Source: National Weather Service directives and glossary.
How many flash flood watches a year?
National count: each flash flood watch 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) | 54 |
| 2025 | 35 |
| 2024 | 31 |
| 2023 | 40 |
| 2022 | 76 |
| 2021 | 692 |
| 2020 | 557 |
| 2019 | 719 |
| 2018 | 726 |
| 2017 | 581 |
| 2016 | 555 |
| 2015 | 817 |
| 2014 | 668 |
| 2013 | 692 |
| 2012 | 342 |
| 2011 | 498 |
| 2010 | 649 |
| 2009 | 632 |
| 2008 | 610 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 16, 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 16, 2026.
Which states get the most flash flood watches?
Yearly average per state, 2021-2025. A flash flood watch covering two states counts in both.
| State | A year, 2021-2025 | A year, 2008-2025 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 24 | 24 | 1 |
| California | 15 | 35 | 2 |
| Texas | 12 | 50 | 1 |
| Virginia | 11 | 29 | 1 |
| Mississippi | 11 | 28 | 0 |
| New Mexico | 10 | 17 | 0 |
| Alabama | 9 | 21 | 0 |
| North Carolina | 9 | 23 | 0 |
| Georgia | 8 | 18 | 0 |
| Pennsylvania | 8 | 23 | 0 |
| New York | 7 | 18 | 0 |
| Louisiana | 7 | 25 | 0 |
| Missouri | 7 | 38 | 0 |
| Tennessee | 7 | 16 | 0 |
| Arizona | 7 | 18 | 0 |
| Kentucky | 6 | 27 | 0 |
| Utah | 6 | 12 | 0 |
| Illinois | 6 | 30 | 0 |
| Idaho | 6 | 9 | 14 |
| Arkansas | 5 | 31 | 0 |
| Kansas | 5 | 27 | 0 |
| Maryland | 5 | 18 | 0 |
| Florida | 5 | 12 | 0 |
| Washington | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| South Carolina | 5 | 12 | 0 |
| Oregon | 5 | 6 | 11 |
| West Virginia | 4 | 26 | 0 |
| Connecticut | 4 | 10 | 0 |
| Indiana | 4 | 21 | 1 |
| Montana | 4 | 7 | 5 |
| Ohio | 4 | 19 | 0 |
| New Jersey | 4 | 11 | 0 |
| Nevada | 3 | 9 | 0 |
| Iowa | 3 | 28 | 0 |
| District of Columbia | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| Oklahoma | 3 | 17 | 0 |
| Massachusetts | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| Wyoming | 2 | 8 | 0 |
| Hawaii | 2 | 9 | 0 |
| Delaware | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Vermont | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| Maine | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 12 | 0 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Nebraska | 1 | 16 | 0 |
| Minnesota | 1 | 13 | 0 |
| Alaska | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Puerto Rico | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Michigan | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| South Dakota | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| North Dakota | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 16, 2026.
Flash Flood Watch or flash flood warning?
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 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. The NWS issued 5,219 flash flood warnings in 2025, against 35 flash flood watches. The flash flood warning record.