Flooding Is America's Second-Biggest Weather Killer On Average, And Texas Is The Top State
(MORE: Texas Flood Disaster Update)
Only Second To Heat Deaths: Over the past 10 years (2015-24), flooding has claimed an average of 113 lives annually in the U.S., according to NOAA. Heat is the only weather type to cause more deaths, with an average of 238 per year.
This Year Has Already Surpassed The Annual Average: While we don't have a firm total on the number flood deaths so far in 2025 across the U.S., that average of 113 has been easily exceeded just over half way through the year. By the end of April, 42 deaths had already been blamed on flooding in the U.S., according to a now retired database previously maintained by the National Weather Service in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Mid-June had a deadly stretch with 20 people killed by separate floods in the span of a few days, including 13 lives lost in San Antonio, Texas, on June 12, followed by seven more killed in West Virginia on June 14-15. Now the early-July Texas flood disaster toll is over 100, so combining just those known confirmed totals puts 2025 well over the yearly average.
Texas Leads All States, Historically: A study published in 2021 by Han and Sharif found that 1,069 people died in Texas floods over four decades from 1959 to 2019. By a large margin that is highest across all 50 states, with Louisiana in second at 693 deaths. Many of the Texas flood deaths in those 40 years studied happened in the Hill Country, where the most recent disaster just occurred.
Peak Time For Flash Floods Is Now: While flooding can happen any time of year, about 75% of flash flood reports between 2007 and 2017 happened from late April through mid-September, according to NOAA's Weather Prediction Center (WPC).
Why Flooding Is So Common: Warm, humid air is most abundant this time of year, which increases the rainfall potential for both individual thunderstorms and larger-scale weather systems in many parts of the country. Thunderstorms also have a greater chance to move more slowly in summer, sometimes concentrating extreme rainfall over one spot for too long. Hurricanes and tropical storms, as well as their remnants, can add to the flood potential this time of year. Check out this link for a deeper dive on why these warmer months are so prone to flooding.
All Flood Threats Can Be Serious: A huge, headline-making storm system is not required to produce deadly flash flooding. Summertime in particular is a time of year when smaller clusters of storms can produce extreme rainfall in a relatively small area, leading to rapidly rising floodwaters if the storms hover over the same location too long. We've seen that several times this year, including the recent flash flood in the Texas Hill Country.
Take Watches And Warnings Seriously: When your local National Weather Service office issues a flood watch, that's your cue to pay attention, since flooding is possible for the time period that's indicated. When a flash flood warning is issued, that means flooding is either already happening or expected to develop based on rainfall rates and radar trends. You should be aware of possible flooding in your area when one is issued, avoid travel and quickly move away from areas prone to rising floodwaters.
The Most Rare Flash Flood Warning: If a flash flood emergency is issued, that's your signal that the situation is especially dire, and you should avoid travel and head to higher ground if in a flood-prone location.
Vehicles Are A Major Flood Death Contributor: Many flood deaths each year are avoidable. Driving into hazardous flood water has historically accounted for more than half of all flood-related drownings, according to NOAA, citing a CDC report. It may be tough to tell how deep the water is when you approach a flooded section of road, especially at night, so never try to proceed – instead, "Turn around. Don't drown," as the National Weather Service says.
(MORE: Your Vehicle Can Be A Trap In A Flash Flood)
Chris Dolce has been a senior digital meteorologist with weather.com for 15 years after beginning his career with The Weather Channel in the early 2000s.
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