Indiana, 1998

Flash Flooding in Indiana, April 16, 1998

April 16, 1998 · NWS ILN · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A warm frontal boundary provided the focus for thunderstorms to move over the same locations for much of the overnight hours. Much of southeastern Indiana received 3-5 inches of rain in 6-8 hours causing serious flooding.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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
5

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 ILN wrote it up.

A warm frontal boundary provided the focus for thunderstorms to move over the same locations for much of the overnight hours. Much of southeastern Indiana received 3-5 inches of rain in 6-8 hours causing serious flooding.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Ripley

When
April 16, 12:23 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where
Ripley County, Countywide
Coordinates
39.104, -85.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Persistent heavy rainfall caused numerous roads to be closed and a few were washed out.

Flash Flood, Dearborn

When
April 16, 12:25 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where
Dearborn County, Countywide
Coordinates
39.145, -84.973 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy rainfall caused area creeks and streams to rise out of their banks.

Flash Flood, Franklin

When
April 16, 12:30 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where
Franklin County, Countywide
Coordinates
39.415, -85.060 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous roads were flooded by persistent heavy rainfall.

Flash Flood, Switzerland

When
April 16, 4:15 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where
Switzerland County, Countywide
Coordinates
38.826, -85.037 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy rainfall caused numerous roads to be closed.

Flash Flood, Ohio

When
April 16, 5:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where
Ohio County, Countywide
Coordinates
38.950, -84.965 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Roads were closed due to heavy rainfall.

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Indiana in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, April 1998

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: 5633577, 5633576, 5633578, 5633580, 5633579.