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Flood in Nantucket County, Massachusetts
36 floods and flash floods events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Flood, Flash Flood, Coastal Flood, Lakeshore Flood.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 36 flood events in Nantucket County, Massachusetts, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 17 years.
January is the busiest month, with 8 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 29 events against 7 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.9% of the 1,890 flood events recorded in Massachusetts; its 77.9 per 100 square miles compares with 24.2 statewide.
Compared with Massachusetts
| Measure | Nantucket County | Massachusetts | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood events since 1950 | 36 | 1,890 | 183,559 |
| Per 100 square miles | 77.9 | 24.2 | 5.2 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 24.8 | 2.7 | 5.5 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 3 | 2,961 |
| Busiest month | January | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
8Feb
4Mar
4Apr
5May
2Jun
1Jul
1Aug
0Sep
2Oct
4Nov
3Dec
2
Recorded events
All 36 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Dec 2022 | Coastal Flood | — | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jan 2022 | Coastal Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 May 2020 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2020 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2020 | Coastal Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Oct 2019 | Coastal Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Sep 2019 | Coastal Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Mar 2018 | Coastal Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Jan 2018 | Coastal Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jan 2018 | Coastal Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jul 2016 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Feb 2016 | Coastal Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Jan 2016 | Coastal Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Feb 2015 | Coastal Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jan 2015 | Coastal Flood | — | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2014 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 2014 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Nov 2014 | Coastal Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Mar 2014 | Coastal Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Jan 2014 | Coastal Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Mar 2013 | Coastal Flood | — | $25K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Feb 2013 | Coastal Flood | — | $100K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Oct 2012 | Coastal Flood | — | $139K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Sep 2010 | Coastal Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Oct 2009 | Coastal Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Nov 2007 | Coastal Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Apr 2007 | Coastal Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Apr 2007 | Coastal Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Apr 2007 | Coastal Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jun 2006 | Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jan 2006 | Coastal Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Oct 2005 | Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Mar 2001 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 1998 | Coastal Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jan 1998 | Coastal Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Apr 1997 | Coastal Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many flood events has Nantucket County had?
36 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of floods and flash floods became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded flood event in Nantucket County?
23 Dec 2022 (Coastal Flood). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging flood event recorded in Nantucket County?
The coastal flood of 29 Oct 2012, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $139K.
How does Nantucket County compare with Massachusetts for flood?
77.9 events per 100 square miles against 24.2 statewide; the county holds 36 of the state's 1,890 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Flood hub and the county page.