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Flood in Cavalier County, North Dakota
24 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 24 flood events in Cavalier County, North Dakota, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 12 years.
April is the busiest month, with 9 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 10 events against 14 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2% of the 1,221 flood events recorded in North Dakota; its 1.6 per 100 square miles compares with 1.8 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to floods and flash floods.
Compared with North Dakota
| Measure | Cavalier County | North Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood events since 1950 | 24 | 1,221 | 183,559 |
| Per 100 square miles | 1.6 | 1.8 | 5.2 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 65.5 | 15.8 | 5.5 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 16 | 2,961 |
| Busiest month | April | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
4Apr
9May
2Jun
4Jul
2Aug
2Sep
1Oct
0Nov
0Dec
0
Recorded events
All 24 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Sep 2024 | Flash Flood | — | $1K | $1K | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2017 | Flood | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2017 | Flood | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2013 | Flood | — | $200K | $250K | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2013 | Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2013 | Flood | — | $5K | — | 1 | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2009 | Flash Flood | — | $5K | $30K | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2009 | Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Mar 2009 | Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2006 | Flood | — | $632K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2006 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2005 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jun 2005 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2004 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Mar 2004 | Flood | — | $340K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Aug 2002 | Flash Flood | — | $13K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2002 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2002 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jul 2000 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 1997 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | $250K | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 1996 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Apr 1996 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Apr 1996 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many flood events has Cavalier County had?
24 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 Cavalier County?
16 Sep 2024 (Flash Flood). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging flood event recorded in Cavalier County?
The flood of 1 Apr 2006, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $632K.
How does Cavalier County compare with North Dakota for flood?
1.6 events per 100 square miles against 1.8 statewide; the county holds 24 of the state's 1,221 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.