National Weather ServiceFlood WarningVTEC FA.W, FL.WArchive to October 1, 2026
Flood Warning: what it means and how often it is issued
The National Weather Service issued 4,230 flood warnings in 2025 and 5,603 a year on average in 2008-2025; Texas, Missouri and Georgia got the most in 2021-2025. 2026 through September: 3,415, 29% below the average of 4,797 for those months in 2008-2025.
What is a flood warning?
A flood warning means flooding is happening or about to happen. The NWS issues it both for rivers at forecast points (river flood warnings) and for areas where water ponds or runs off (areal flood warnings); AreaZine counts both. 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 flood warnings a year?
National count: each 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) | 3,493 |
| 2025 | 4,230 |
| 2024 | 5,459 |
| 2023 | 3,913 |
| 2022 | 3,679 |
| 2021 | 5,262 |
| 2020 | 6,345 |
| 2019 | 9,178 |
| 2018 | 8,234 |
| 2017 | 5,743 |
| 2016 | 4,807 |
| 2015 | 7,517 |
| 2014 | 4,303 |
| 2013 | 5,570 |
| 2012 | 2,172 |
| 2011 | 6,432 |
| 2010 | 6,078 |
| 2009 | 5,912 |
| 2008 | 6,021 |
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 flood warnings?
Yearly average per state, 2021-2025. A flood warning covering two states counts in both.
| State | A year, 2021-2025 | A year, 2008-2025 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 450 | 490 | 446 |
| Missouri | 333 | 538 | 288 |
| Georgia | 277 | 272 | 167 |
| Indiana | 251 | 378 | 271 |
| Mississippi | 219 | 235 | 156 |
| Kansas | 209 | 332 | 306 |
| Louisiana | 196 | 197 | 157 |
| Florida | 181 | 173 | 35 |
| Kentucky | 175 | 170 | 315 |
| Illinois | 170 | 358 | 102 |
| Ohio | 158 | 217 | 171 |
| Alabama | 151 | 163 | 129 |
| Virginia | 147 | 171 | 171 |
| Arkansas | 134 | 155 | 200 |
| Oklahoma | 123 | 151 | 236 |
| Pennsylvania | 117 | 137 | 78 |
| New York | 113 | 117 | 67 |
| North Carolina | 105 | 145 | 66 |
| West Virginia | 102 | 91 | 153 |
| Tennessee | 101 | 115 | 142 |
| Washington | 86 | 87 | 118 |
| Minnesota | 81 | 108 | 54 |
| New Jersey | 80 | 70 | 25 |
| South Carolina | 78 | 79 | 43 |
| Iowa | 74 | 241 | 63 |
| California | 70 | 48 | 70 |
| Wisconsin | 68 | 122 | 58 |
| Maryland | 67 | 74 | 54 |
| South Dakota | 66 | 101 | 95 |
| Michigan | 52 | 75 | 27 |
| Arizona | 45 | 26 | 47 |
| Nebraska | 40 | 92 | 35 |
| Vermont | 40 | 34 | 29 |
| Connecticut | 40 | 34 | 10 |
| Massachusetts | 38 | 39 | 12 |
| Oregon | 35 | 37 | 70 |
| Puerto Rico | 34 | 33 | 56 |
| North Dakota | 32 | 49 | 8 |
| Colorado | 30 | 29 | 17 |
| Maine | 29 | 32 | 7 |
| New Hampshire | 27 | 28 | 13 |
| Rhode Island | 19 | 14 | 2 |
| Alaska | 18 | 16 | 16 |
| Idaho | 15 | 24 | 11 |
| Montana | 14 | 44 | 9 |
| Delaware | 13 | 17 | 5 |
| New Mexico | 12 | 10 | 15 |
| Nevada | 10 | 14 | 3 |
| District of Columbia | 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Utah | 6 | 9 | 5 |
| Wyoming | 5 | 17 | 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 flood warnings in AreaZine's record
NWS TopekaWarningOctober 1, 2026
Flood Warning: Cloud, KS
In force until 7:00 a.m. CDT, October 2, 2026
NWS TopekaWarningOctober 1, 2026
Flood Warning: Clay, KS
In force until 1:00 p.m. CDT, October 4, 2026
NWS TopekaWarningOctober 1, 2026
Flood Warning: Republic, KS
In force until 3:00 p.m. CDT, October 2, 2026
NWS Omaha/ValleyWarningOctober 1, 2026
Flood Warning: Fremont and Mills, IA
In force until 2:00 a.m. CDT, October 3, 2026
NWS Omaha/ValleyWarningOctober 1, 2026
Flood Warning: Fremont and Page, IA
In force until 1:00 p.m. CDT, October 1, 2026
NWS Kansas City/Pleasant HillWarningOctober 1, 2026
Flood Warning: Atchison and Holt, MO
In force until 7:36 p.m. CDT, October 2, 2026
NWS Kansas City/Pleasant HillWarningOctober 1, 2026
Flood Warning: Buchanan, MO
In force until 8:30 a.m. CDT, October 4, 2026
NWS Kansas City/Pleasant HillWarningOctober 1, 2026
Flood Warning: Platte, MO
In force until 4:00 a.m. CDT, October 6, 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).
Flood Warning or flood watch?
A flood watch (for a wide area, hours or days ahead) means the conditions are possible: be ready; a flood warning (from the local NWS office, for the area at risk) means the hazard is happening or imminent: act now. A flood watch means conditions may lead to flooding in the coming day or days; it is not yet happening. 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 1,044 flood watches in 2025, against 4,230 flood warnings. The flood watch record.