Key facts: Clearwater
- Hurricane Helene's surge flooded Clearwater Beach and much of the Pinellas coast in September 2024, even though the storm stayed well offshore.[1]
- Helene showed that a passing storm can push water far ashore.
- Don't judge risk by the forecast track alone.
A storm that never made landfall here
Helene showed that a passing storm can push water far ashore. Don't judge risk by the forecast track alone.
Beach condos and older homes
Ground-floor units, garages and elevators take the surge. Associations and owners should report early.
Flood claims recorded in Pinellas County
Clearwater sits in Pinellas County. FEMA publishes every National Flood Insurance Program claim with personal details removed, which gives a plain record of where water has reached insured buildings here.
| Measure | Count |
|---|---|
| Flood insurance claims on record | 51,779 |
| Year with the most claims | 2024 (26,366) |
| Largest named event | Hurricane Helene (23,452) |
| Claims outside high-risk A and V zones | 6% |
| Claims on buildings built before 1975 | 79% |
County-wide counts of insured claims only. Uninsured losses, burst pipes and appliance leaks are not in this data.
What the Clearwater claim record shows
For Clearwater homes, the local precedents are the events behind the most Pinellas County claims: Hurricane Helene (23,452 claims), Hurricane Elena (5,881 claims) and Hurricane Josephine (3,458 claims).
Around Clearwater, about 94% of county claims with a recorded zone came from the high-risk A and V zones, so checking your address on the FEMA flood map tells you a lot here.
If your Clearwater home is older, note that buildings from before 1975 make up 79% of county claims with a known build date. Many predate current flood maps, so inspect low outlets, ductwork and subfloors closely after any water event.
Federal disaster history for Pinellas County
FEMA lists 45 federal declarations covering Pinellas County. The most common types are hurricane (21), severe storm (7) and tropical storm (5). The latest are Hurricane Milton in 2024, Hurricane Helene in 2024 and Tropical Storm Helene in 2024. When a declaration is open, federal aid may be available to Clearwater residents, so ask about it alongside your insurance claim.
Clearwater weather and your home
Weather records for Clearwater from 2015 through 2024 average 54 inches of precipitation a year, and August and July are the wettest months. The area averages 9.1 days a year with an inch or more.
Freezing nights almost never happen in Clearwater, so the bigger concerns are storms, plumbing failures and humidity.
When rain falls in Clearwater
Seasonal averages for Clearwater, 2015 through 2024. Plan roof, gutter and sump pump checks before the wettest stretch.
| Season | Average | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| January to March | 7.0 in | 13% |
| April to June | 13.2 in | 24% |
| July to September | 25.8 in | 48% |
| October to December | 8.2 in | 15% |
Modeled from Open-Meteo historical weather data. Precipitation includes rain and melted snow.
Clearwater home checklist from these records
- Treat flood risk as current. 59% of Pinellas County claims date from 2015 or later.
- Check roof flashing and drains before August, the wettest month in Clearwater.
- Keep dated photos of each room. After Hurricane Helene, 23,452 insured Pinellas County owners filed claims at about the same time.
What to tell the Clearwater contractor
- Beach or mainland
- Your unit's floor
- Whether the elevator or garage flooded
Services Clearwater callers ask about
Questions
Clearwater water damage questions
Is surge a flood claim?
Generally yes, so check your flood policy.
Do you cover Dunedin?
Yes, Dunedin is in the data as well.