Tornadoes and Hail in Indiana, April 3, 1974

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Indiana, April 3, 1974
Start: 1974-04-03T08:20
End: 1974-04-03T19:45
Location: Indiana

April 3, 1974 · 64 events in 49 counties and zones

54 tornado, 8 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 47
Injuries: 832
Property damage: $956 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 64

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

Event by event

54 tornado, 8 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Marion

When: April 3, 8:20 AM CST
Where: Marion County
Coordinates: 39.780, -86.000

Tornado, Boone

When: April 3, 8:30 AM CST
Where: Boone County
Rating: F2
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Coordinates: 40.030, -86.300

Hail, Warrick

When: April 3, 12:55 PM CST
Where: Warrick County
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 37.980, -87.250

Tornado, Orange

When: April 3, 1:15 PM CST
Where: Orange County
Rating: F1
Path length: 14 mi
Path width: 177 yd
Property damage: $250,000
Coordinates: 38.620, -86.580

Tornado, Perry

When: April 3, 1:20 PM CST
Where: Perry County
Rating: F5
Path length: 16.3 mi
Path width: 33 yd
Deaths: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 6 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $250 million
Coordinates: 38.070, -86.750

Tornado, Lawrence

When: April 3, 1:30 PM CST
Where: Lawrence County
Rating: F3
Path length: 2.3 mi
Path width: 177 yd
Property damage: $25 million
Coordinates: 38.770, -86.300

Tornado, Jackson

When: April 3, 1:35 PM CST
Where: Jackson County
Rating: F3
Path length: 26.8 mi
Path width: 177 yd
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 21 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 38.800, -86.270

Tornado, Crawford

When: April 3, 1:35 PM CST
Where: Crawford County
Rating: F5
Path length: 13.6 mi
Path width: 33 yd
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 38.200, -86.500

Tornado, Shelby

When: April 3, 1:45 PM CST
Where: Shelby County
Rating: F3
Path length: 8.9 mi
Path width: 440 yd
Injuries: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $25 million
Coordinates: 39.580, -85.870

Tornado, Hancock

When: April 3, 1:50 PM CST
Where: Hancock County
Rating: F3
Path length: 11.8 mi
Path width: 440 yd
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 23 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $25 million
Coordinates: 39.700, -85.780

Tornado, Harrison

When: April 3, 1:50 PM CST
Where: Harrison County
Rating: F5
Path length: 13.5 mi
Path width: 33 yd
Deaths: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 34 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 38.300, -86.280

Tornado, Bartholomew

When: April 3, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Bartholomew County
Rating: F3
Path length: 5.4 mi
Path width: 177 yd
Coordinates: 39.050, -85.880

Tornado, Hancock

When: April 3, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Hancock County
Rating: F4
Path length: 1.3 mi
Path width: 33 yd
Injuries: 11 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $25 million
Coordinates: 39.750, -85.650

Tornado, Washington

When: April 3, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Washington County
Rating: F5
Path length: 5.7 mi
Path width: 33 yd
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 12 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 38.420, -86.080

Tornado, Bartholomew

When: April 3, 2:01 PM CST
Where: Bartholomew County
Rating: F4
Path width: 17 yd
Property damage: $25 million
Coordinates: 39.130, -85.720

Tornado, Rush

When: April 3, 2:05 PM CST
Where: Rush County
Rating: F4
Path length: 2.7 mi
Path width: 33 yd
Coordinates: 39.770, -85.620

Tornado, Decatur

When: April 3, 2:05 PM CST
Where: Decatur County
Rating: F4
Path length: 26.1 mi
Path width: 1,200 yd
Deaths: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 7 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 39.150, -85.700

Hail, Hancock

When: April 3, 2:05 PM CST
Where: Hancock County
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Coordinates: 39.780, -85.700

Tornado, Jennings

When: April 3, 2:10 PM CST
Where: Jennings County
Rating: F3
Path length: 1.3 mi
Path width: 177 yd
Injuries: 5 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 39.100, -85.800

Tornado, Henry

When: April 3, 2:10 PM CST
Where: Henry County
Rating: F4
Path length: 14.9 mi
Path width: 33 yd
Injuries: 6 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 39.780, -85.570

Tornado, Clark

When: April 3, 2:10 PM CST
Where: Clark County
Rating: F5
Path length: 17 mi
Path width: 33 yd
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 23 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 38.470, -86.000

Hail, Henry

When: April 3, 2:10 PM CST
Where: Henry County
Measured: 3 in hail
Coordinates: 39.880, -85.580

Tornado, Clark

When: April 3, 2:19 PM CST
Where: Clark County
Rating: F4
Path length: 5.4 mi
Path width: 1,200 yd
Property damage: $250 million
Coordinates: 38.550, -85.750

Tornado, Scott

When: April 3, 2:20 PM CST
Where: Scott County
Rating: F5
Path length: 1.9 mi
Path width: 33 yd
Injuries: 10 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 38.600, -85.730

Tornado, Scott

When: April 3, 2:25 PM CST
Where: Scott County
Rating: F4
Path length: 5.2 mi
Path width: 1,200 yd
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 15 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 38.600, -85.670

Tornado, Franklin

When: April 3, 2:30 PM CST
Where: Franklin County
Rating: F4
Path length: 9.5 mi
Path width: 1,200 yd
Deaths: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 10 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 39.350, -85.280

Tornado, Jefferson

When: April 3, 2:30 PM CST
Where: Jefferson County
Rating: F4
Path length: 25 mi
Path width: 1,200 yd
Deaths: 10 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 175 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 38.650, -85.580

Tornado, Henry

When: April 3, 2:35 PM CST
Where: Henry County
Rating: F4
Path length: 1.3 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $25 million
Coordinates: 40.050, -85.270

Hail, Jefferson

When: April 3, 2:35 PM CST
Where: Jefferson County
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Coordinates: 38.780, -85.380

Tornado, Delaware

When: April 3, 2:40 PM CST
Where: Delaware County
Rating: F4
Path width: 1,400 yd
Coordinates: 40.080, -85.250

Tornado, Jefferson

When: April 3, 2:40 PM CST
Where: Jefferson County
Rating: F4
Path length: 5.7 mi
Path width: 300 yd
Property damage: $25 million
Coordinates: 38.770, -85.270

Tornado, Switzerland

When: April 3, 2:45 PM CST
Where: Switzerland County
Rating: F4
Path length: 7.6 mi
Path width: 1,133 yd
Injuries: 40 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 38.830, -85.200

Tornado, Randolph

When: April 3, 2:50 PM CST
Where: Randolph County
Rating: F4
Path length: 16.7 mi
Path width: 1,400 yd
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 12 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 40.100, -85.230

Tornado, Ohio

When: April 3, 2:55 PM CST
Where: Ohio County
Rating: F4
Path length: 9.1 mi
Path width: 1,133 yd
Injuries: 64 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 38.900, -85.080

Tornado, Ripley

When: April 3, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Ripley County
Rating: F4
Path width: 1,200 yd
Coordinates: 38.920, -85.270

Tornado, Jay

When: April 3, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Jay County
Rating: F4
Path width: 400 yd
Coordinates: 40.300, -85.050

Tornado, Dearborn

When: April 3, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Dearborn County
Rating: F4
Path length: 4.7 mi
Path width: 667 yd
Coordinates: 39.000, -84.970

Tornado, Harrison

When: April 3, 3:10 PM CST
Where: Harrison County
Rating: F5
Path length: 4.9 mi
Path width: 440 yd
Property damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 38.000, -86.170

Hail, Dearborn

When: April 3, 3:15 PM CST
Where: Dearborn County
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 38.970, -85.050

Tornado, Ohio

When: April 3, 3:20 PM CST
Where: Ohio County
Rating: F5
Path width: 33 yd
Coordinates: 38.970, -84.880

Tornado, Warren

When: April 3, 3:30 PM CST
Where: Warren County
Rating: F3
Path length: 25.9 mi
Path width: 700 yd
Property damage: $250,000
Coordinates: 40.280, -87.480

Tornado, Benton

When: April 3, 3:45 PM CST
Where: Benton County
Rating: F4
Path length: 1.3 mi
Path width: 333 yd
Property damage: $250 million
Coordinates: 40.500, -87.130

Tornado, White

When: April 3, 3:52 PM CST
Where: White County
Rating: F4
Path length: 36.1 mi
Path width: 900 yd
Deaths: 10 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 73 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 40.530, -87.100

Tornado, Cass

When: April 3, 4:30 PM CST
Where: Cass County
Rating: F4
Path length: 3.6 mi
Path width: 33 yd
Injuries: 4 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 40.870, -86.570

Tornado, Pulaski

When: April 3, 4:35 PM CST
Where: Pulaski County
Rating: F4
Path length: 1.9 mi
Path width: 33 yd
Injuries: 7 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 40.920, -86.520

Thunderstorm Wind, Tippecanoe

When: April 3, 4:38 PM CST
Where: Tippecanoe County
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph)
Coordinates: 40.420, -86.870

Tornado, Fulton

When: April 3, 4:40 PM CST
Where: Fulton County
Rating: F4
Path length: 24.1 mi
Path width: 1,760 yd
Deaths: 6 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 138 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 40.950, -86.470

Hail, Allen

When: April 3, 4:50 PM CST
Where: Allen County
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 40.970, -84.870

Tornado, Marshall

When: April 3, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Marshall County
Rating: F4
Path length: 1.9 mi
Path width: 33 yd
Coordinates: 41.170, -86.100

Tornado, Kosciusko

When: April 3, 5:05 PM CST
Where: Kosciusko County
Rating: F4
Path length: 25.4 mi
Path width: 33 yd
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 39 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 41.200, -86.050

Tornado, Wabash

When: April 3, 5:35 PM CST
Where: Wabash County
Rating: F1
Path length: 7.1 mi
Path width: 90 yd
Coordinates: 40.970, -85.730

Tornado, Elkhart

When: April 3, 5:40 PM CST
Where: Elkhart County
Rating: F4
Path width: 33 yd
Coordinates: 41.420, -85.650

Hail, Clinton

When: April 3, 5:40 PM CST
Where: Clinton County
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Coordinates: 40.220, -86.430

Tornado, Howard

When: April 3, 5:45 PM CST
Where: Howard County
Rating: F2
Path length: 8.3 mi
Path width: 350 yd
Property damage: $2.5 million
Coordinates: 40.380, -85.970

Tornado, Noble

When: April 3, 5:45 PM CST
Where: Noble County
Rating: F4
Path length: 14.4 mi
Path width: 33 yd
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 24 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 41.430, -85.630

Hail, Tipton

When: April 3, 5:45 PM CST
Where: Tipton County
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Coordinates: 40.280, -86.230

Tornado, Grant

When: April 3, 5:50 PM CST
Where: Grant County
Rating: F2
Path length: 10.9 mi
Path width: 350 yd
Injuries: 12 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 40.480, -85.870

Tornado, Noble

When: April 3, 5:50 PM CST
Where: Noble County
Rating: F3
Path length: 11.4 mi
Path width: 150 yd
Deaths: 3 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 38 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $25 million
Coordinates: 41.420, -85.470

Tornado, Lagrange

When: April 3, 5:55 PM CST
Where: Lagrange County
Rating: F1
Path length: 8.8 mi
Path width: 350 yd
Injuries: 5 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 41.580, -85.380

Tornado, Lagrange

When: April 3, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Lagrange County
Rating: F3
Path length: 4.3 mi
Path width: 1,000 yd
Coordinates: 41.520, -85.280

Tornado, Huntington

When: April 3, 6:10 PM CST
Where: Huntington County
Rating: F2
Path length: 11.5 mi
Path width: 350 yd
Coordinates: 40.670, -85.500

Tornado, Steuben

When: April 3, 6:10 PM CST
Where: Steuben County
Rating: F3
Path length: 20.5 mi
Path width: 333 yd
Deaths: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 15 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 41.570, -85.220

Tornado, Wells

When: April 3, 6:15 PM CST
Where: Wells County
Rating: F2
Path length: 14.4 mi
Path width: 177 yd
Property damage: $2.5 million
Coordinates: 40.730, -85.250

Tornado, Wells

When: April 3, 7:45 PM CST
Where: Wells County
Rating: F1
Path length: 10.9 mi
Path width: 350 yd
Coordinates: 40.770, -85.150

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Kind
Tornado, Jackson	1974-04-03	Direct
Tornado, Hancock	1974-04-03	Direct
Tornado, Washington	1974-04-03	Direct
Tornado, Clark	1974-04-03	Direct
Tornado, Scott	1974-04-03	Direct
Tornado, Randolph	1974-04-03	Direct
Tornado, Kosciusko	1974-04-03	Direct
Tornado, Noble	1974-04-03	Direct

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Indiana in 1974 Every state in 1974 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Indiana, 1974

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 10016929, 10016930, 10017139, 10017140, 10017141, 10017142, 10017143, 10017144, 10017145, 10017146, 10017147, 10017148, 10017149, 10017150, 10017151, 10017152, 10017153, 10017154, 10017155, 10017156, 10017157, 10017158, 10017159, 10017160, 10017161, 10017162, 10017163, 10017164, 10017165, 10017166, 10017167, 10017168, 10017169, 10017170, 10017171, 10017172, 10017173, 10017174, 10017175, 10017176, and more.