History of Flash flood warning in Timeline

A flash flood warning is a critical alert issued by weather forecasting agencies, like the National Weather Service, to inform the public about imminent or ongoing flash floods. These sudden and intense floods are typically triggered by heavy rainfall or dam failures. Several factors contribute to the risk of flash flooding, including the intensity and duration of rainfall, the terrain's characteristics, soil conditions, and the type of ground cover.

August 27, 2017: Flash Flood Emergency for Catastrophic Life Threatening Flooding

On August 27, 2017, as Hurricane Harvey brought torrential rain to southeast Texas, the NWS issued a "Flash Flood Emergency for Catastrophic Life Threatening Flooding."

September 10, 2017: Flash Flood Emergency for Hurricane Irma

On September 10, 2017, the NWS issued a Flash Flood Emergency for life-threatening storm surge because of Hurricane Irma in southwestern Florida at the eye landfall.

February 6, 2020: Flash Flood Emergency for Tazewell County, Virginia

On February 6, 2020, the NWS issued a Flash Flood Emergency for Tazewell County, Virginia due to a major storm moving through the area which caused the Clinch River to rise to its highest crest in 40 years.

May 20, 2020: Flash Flood Emergency for the Tittabawassee River

On May 20, 2020, the NWS issued a Flash Flood Emergency for the Tittabawassee River in Midland County, Michigan due to multiple dam failures causing the river to overflow and reach its highest crest since 1986.

July 6, 2020: Flash Flood Emergency for Tacony Creek and Frankford Creek

On July 6, 2020, the NWS issued a Flash Flood Emergency for Tacony Creek and Frankford Creek, the former situated along Montgomery County and North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the latter along Philadelphia's Frankford neighborhood.

September 2, 2021: First Ever Flash Flood Emergency for New York City, Philadelphia, Fairfield and New Haven Counties

On September 2, 2021, the NWS issued a first ever Flash Flood Emergency for New York City, Philadelphia, Fairfield and New Haven Counties in Connecticut, and most of Central New Jersey as the remnants of Hurricane Ida transitioned and intensified into a post tropical cyclone causing torrential rains. Some areas reported up to 10 inches of rain in less than an hour.

July 28, 2022: Flash Flood Emergencies in eastern Kentucky for catastrophic and deadly flooding

On July 28, 2022, the NWS issued several Flash Flood Emergencies in eastern Kentucky for catastrophic and deadly flooding.

March 27, 2023: Flash Flood Emergency for a dam break

On March 27, 2023, the NWS issued a Flash Flood Emergency for a dam break on the Head's Creek Reservoir in Spaulding County, Georgia.

September 27, 2024: Flash Flood Emergency for Metro Atlanta

On September 27, 2024, a Flash Flood Emergency was issued for Metro Atlanta as Hurricane Helene brought catastrophic flooding to the area.

October 9, 2024: Flash Flood Emergency for Tampa Bay and Big Bend areas

On October 9, 2024, a Flash Flood Emergency was issued for several counties in the Tampa Bay and Big Bend areas of Florida as Hurricane Milton posed life-threatening flooding to a large portion of the West Coast.

August 8, 2025: Deaths confirmed from central Texas flooding

As of August 8, 2025, at least 135 people have been confirmed dead from the Flash Flood Emergencies issued in central Texas from July 4-7, 2025, as a slow-moving mesoscale convective complex caused catastrophic flooding, particularly in Kerr County.