Indiana, 1997

Flooding in Indiana, March 2 to 4, 1997

March 2 to 4, 1997 · NWS IND · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

A strong weather system produced 2 to 4 inches of rain across parts of central and south central Indiana on march 1st and 2nd. This was the north edge of a massive record setting rain over extreme southern Indiana and much of Kentucky which caused the worst flood in 30 years on the Ohio River.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS IND wrote it up.

A strong weather system produced 2 to 4 inches of rain across parts of central and south central Indiana on march 1st and 2nd. This was the north edge of a massive record setting rain over extreme southern Indiana and much of Kentucky which caused the worst flood in 30 years on the Ohio River. The north edge of this rain event brought the East Fork White River and Muskatatuck River 3 to 5 feet above flood stage for several days closing many lowland roads.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Bartholomew

When
March 2, 12:00 AM EST to March 3, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Bartholomew forecast zone
Coordinates
39.206, -85.898 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Lawrence

When
March 2, 12:00 AM EST to March 4, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Lawrence forecast zone
Coordinates
38.841, -86.483 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Jackson

When
March 2, 12:00 AM EST to March 4, 6:00 PM EST
Where
Jackson forecast zone
Coordinates
38.906, -86.037 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Jennings

When
March 2, 12:00 AM EST to March 4, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Jennings forecast zone
Coordinates
38.997, -85.628 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Indiana in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, March 1997

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: 5589481, 5589482, 5589483, 5589484.