National Weather ServiceFlood WatchVTEC FA.A, FL.AArchive to October 1, 2026
Flood Watch: what it means and how often it is issued
The National Weather Service issued 1,044 flood watches in 2025 and 599 a year on average in 2008-2025; Texas, California and Illinois got the most in 2021-2025. 2026 through September: 1,008, 97% above the average of 513 for those months in 2008-2025.
What is a flood watch?
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.
Source: National Weather Service directives and glossary.
How many flood watches a year?
National count: each 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) | 1,020 |
| 2025 | 1,044 |
| 2024 | 1,220 |
| 2023 | 949 |
| 2022 | 824 |
| 2021 | 328 |
| 2020 | 357 |
| 2019 | 601 |
| 2018 | 794 |
| 2017 | 520 |
| 2016 | 305 |
| 2015 | 354 |
| 2014 | 408 |
| 2013 | 488 |
| 2012 | 306 |
| 2011 | 688 |
| 2010 | 543 |
| 2009 | 449 |
| 2008 | 607 |
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 watches?
Yearly average per state, 2021-2025. A flood watch covering two states counts in both.
| State | A year, 2021-2025 | A year, 2008-2025 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 65 | 24 | 108 |
| California | 60 | 29 | 83 |
| Illinois | 59 | 52 | 42 |
| Virginia | 58 | 33 | 92 |
| Iowa | 53 | 43 | 95 |
| New Mexico | 50 | 14 | 81 |
| Missouri | 49 | 24 | 59 |
| West Virginia | 45 | 33 | 71 |
| Oklahoma | 38 | 21 | 72 |
| Pennsylvania | 37 | 33 | 59 |
| Maryland | 36 | 24 | 47 |
| Kentucky | 34 | 20 | 43 |
| Wisconsin | 33 | 31 | 34 |
| Washington | 33 | 29 | 38 |
| North Carolina | 32 | 20 | 43 |
| Indiana | 31 | 28 | 25 |
| New York | 30 | 26 | 33 |
| Louisiana | 29 | 12 | 30 |
| Arkansas | 28 | 12 | 42 |
| Florida | 28 | 19 | 17 |
| Kansas | 27 | 16 | 44 |
| Ohio | 26 | 31 | 27 |
| Colorado | 26 | 9 | 25 |
| Georgia | 25 | 17 | 20 |
| Minnesota | 22 | 20 | 20 |
| Oregon | 20 | 20 | 22 |
| Arizona | 19 | 7 | 27 |
| Alaska | 19 | 14 | 17 |
| Mississippi | 18 | 7 | 13 |
| Connecticut | 18 | 14 | 17 |
| Montana | 18 | 20 | 14 |
| Tennessee | 17 | 12 | 17 |
| Alabama | 17 | 8 | 15 |
| Idaho | 15 | 17 | 18 |
| New Jersey | 14 | 11 | 14 |
| Nebraska | 14 | 7 | 21 |
| Nevada | 13 | 6 | 16 |
| Maine | 12 | 11 | 3 |
| Utah | 12 | 5 | 9 |
| District of Columbia | 11 | 6 | 18 |
| Massachusetts | 11 | 11 | 13 |
| Michigan | 11 | 15 | 5 |
| South Carolina | 11 | 8 | 6 |
| New Hampshire | 9 | 9 | 5 |
| Vermont | 9 | 8 | 5 |
| Hawaii | 8 | 2 | 8 |
| Wyoming | 7 | 8 | 3 |
| Rhode Island | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| Delaware | 7 | 5 | 9 |
| North Dakota | 6 | 9 | 7 |
| South Dakota | 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Puerto Rico | 2 | 1 | 2 |
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 watches in AreaZine's record
NWS TiyanWatchOctober 1, 2026
Flood Watch: Tinian and Saipan, MP
In force until 4:00 a.m. UTC+10, October 5, 2026
NWS HastingsWatchOctober 1, 2026
Flood Watch: Phillips, Smith, Jewell and 11 more, KS and NE
In force until 7:00 p.m. CDT, October 1, 2026
NWS WichitaWatchOctober 1, 2026
Flood Watch: Russell, Lincoln, Barton and 2 more, KS
In force until 7:00 p.m. CDT, October 1, 2026
NWS Kansas City/Pleasant HillWatchOctober 1, 2026
Flood Watch: Atchison, Mercer, Putnam and 7 more, KS and MO
In force until 1:00 a.m. CDT, October 2, 2026
NWS Fort WorthWatchOctober 1, 2026
Flood Watch: Montague, Cooke, Grayson and 33 more, TX
In force until 7:00 a.m. CDT, October 2, 2026
NWS NormanWatchOctober 1, 2026
Flood Watch: Caddo, Canadian, Oklahoma and 27 more, OK and TX
In force until 1:00 p.m. CDT, October 1, 2026
NWS Des MoinesWatchOctober 1, 2026
Flood Watch: Humboldt, Wright, Franklin and 40 more, IA
In force until 1:00 a.m. CDT, October 2, 2026
NWS TopekaWatchOctober 1, 2026
Flood Watch: Republic, Washington, Marshall and 14 more, KS
In force until 6:00 p.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).
Flood Watch or flood warning?
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 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. The NWS issued 4,230 flood warnings in 2025, against 1,044 flood watches. The flood warning record.