Flash Flooding in Indiana, May 12 to 13, 2002

Name: Flash Flooding in Indiana, May 12 to 13, 2002
Start: 2002-05-12T09:30
End: 2002-05-13T08:00
Location: Indiana

May 12 to 13, 2002 · NWS IND · 33 events in 30 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 33 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $1.7 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 33

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.

Thunderstorms moved across all of central Indiana during the day of May 12 and continuing into the evening. These thunderstorms produced very heavy rain, with many areas seeing more than one round of thunderstorms. The result was extensive flash flooding. Numerous roads were closed, including state roads and U.S. highways. A couple of bridges were washed out, and some culverts were destroyed. At Ball State University in Delaware county, residence halls experienced flooding. Elsewhere in Delaware county water was up to 6 feet deep at underpasses. At Vincennes in Knox county, a trailer park was evacuated resulting in 80 families being moved to a shelter. Other smaller evacuations occurred in Owen and Greene counties.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Indianapolis, IN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 12, 2:35 AM EST, 6 hours 55 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 12, 2:35 AM EST, 6 hours 55 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
235 AM EST SUS MAY 12 2002

...FLOOD WATCH TODAY AND TONIGHT...

MAIN FORECAST PROBLEM THIS MORNING WILL BE HOW MUCH RAIN AREAS WILL
RECEIVE. THIS MORNING A STATIONARY FRONT IS ACROSS THE NORTHERN
BOURDER OF INDIANA. THIS FRONT WILL MOVE SLOWLY TO THE SOUTH.

RADAR HAS LARGE AREA OF RAIN ACROSS NORTHERN INDIANA. THIS WILL SLIP
SOUTH DURING THE DAY. AN AREA OF STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS HAS JUST
CROSSED THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. A WARNING THAT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR
THESE WAS CANCELLED DUE TO WEAKENING. THESE WILL TAKE AT LEAST 6
HOURS TO REACH INDIANA. SINCE THEY WILL OCCURRING DURING MOST STABLE
PART OF DAY DONT SEE THEM GAINING ANY STRONGER IF AT ALL. MAIN
PROBLEM WILL BE HEAVY RAIN.

MODELS ARE CONSISTANT WITH AREAS OF RAIN. AVERAGE AROUND 1.5 INCH
TODAY AND TONIGHT. DUE TO ALREADY SATURATED CONDITIONS WILL GO WITH
FLOOD WATCH TODAY AND TONIGHT. THE HEAVIEST RAIN WILL MOVE OUT OF
THE NORTH THIS EVE BUT WILL CONTINUE WITH HIGH POPS SO WILL CONTINUE
THE FLOOD WATCH THERE.

GOOD WAA. TEMPS S AND SW OF HERE WERE IN THE MID TO UPPER 70S. WILL
GO A LITTLE ABOVE GUID.

TEMPS DROP OFF GOOD AFTER FROPA. GUID IS USUALLY A LITTLE SLOW WITH
BRINGING IN COLDER AIR. WILL GO A LITTLE COOLER THAN GUID.

WILL CONTINUE WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS IN THE CENTRAL AND N MAINLY
IN THE MORNING MONDAY WITH LIKELY SOUTH. SHOULD BE MUCH LIGHTER SO
WILL NOT CONTINUE THE FLOOD WATCH FOR THAT PERIOD. WITH COOLER AIR
MOVING IN WILL GO LOWER THAN GUID TEMPS.

IND...FLOOD WATCH ENTIRE CWA TODAY AND TONIGHT.
HAINES

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 12, 6:27 AM EST, 3 hours 3 minutes before

INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-121330-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
627 AM EST SUN MAY 12 2002

...FLOOD WATCH TODAY AND TONIGHT...

A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT FOR ALL OF CENTRAL
INDIANA. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO INDIANA THIS
MORNING. A FEW SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

SEVERE WEATHER SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS POSSIBLE TODAY IN CENTRAL
INDIANA.

The radar

The Indianapolis radar (KIND), 102 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:28 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

33 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Vermillion

When: May 12, 9:30 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where: Vermillion County, Newport
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.854, -87.464 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Vigo

When: May 12, 10:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Vigo County, Countywide
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.431, -87.390 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Clay

When: May 12, 10:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Clay County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.393, -87.116 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Putnam

When: May 12, 10:55 AM EST to 11:55 AM EST
Where: Putnam County, Countywide
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.666, -86.845 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Fountain

When: May 12, 12:30 PM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where: Fountain County, 2 mi S of Covington
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.121, -87.242 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Clinton

When: May 12, 1:45 PM EST to 2:15 PM EST
Where: Clinton County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.302, -86.475 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Boone

When: May 12, 2:00 PM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where: Boone County, 3 mi W of Thorntown
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.051, -86.469 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Montgomery

When: May 12, 2:00 PM EST to 2:30 PM EST
Where: Montgomery County, North Portion
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.040, -86.893 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Rush

When: May 12, 2:00 PM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Rush County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.620, -85.466 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Owen

When: May 12, 2:00 PM EST to May 13, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Owen County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.313, -86.838 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Henry

When: May 12, 2:30 PM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Henry County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.931, -85.396 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Delaware

When: May 12, 4:00 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Delaware County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.228, -85.397 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Hancock

When: May 12, 5:00 PM EST to 7:30 PM EST
Where: Hancock County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.824, -85.773 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Hamilton

When: May 12, 5:15 PM EST to 9:15 PM EST
Where: Hamilton County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.073, -86.052 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Randolph

When: May 12, 5:20 PM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: Randolph County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.158, -85.011 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Madison

When: May 12, 5:40 PM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: Madison County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 40.162, -85.719 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Jackson

When: May 12, 6:00 PM EST to May 13, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Jackson County, 2 mi W of Seymour
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.906, -86.037 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Monroe

When: May 12, 6:40 PM EST to May 13, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Monroe County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.161, -86.523 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Sullivan

When: May 12, 7:00 PM EST to May 13, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Sullivan County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.089, -87.415 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Clay

When: May 12, 7:00 PM EST to May 13, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Clay County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.393, -87.116 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Vigo

When: May 12, 7:00 PM EST to May 13, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Vigo County, Terre Haute
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.431, -87.390 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Delaware

When: May 12, 7:00 PM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: Delaware County, Muncie
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 40.228, -85.397 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Brown

When: May 12, 7:00 PM EST to May 13, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Brown County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.196, -86.227 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Lawrence

When: May 12, 7:00 PM EST to May 13, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Lawrence County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.841, -86.483 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Jennings

When: May 12, 7:00 PM EST to May 13, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Jennings County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.997, -85.628 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Martin

When: May 12, 7:00 PM EST to May 13, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Martin County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.708, -86.803 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Greene

When: May 12, 7:15 PM EST to May 13, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Greene County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.036, -86.962 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Daviess

When: May 12, 7:15 PM EST to May 13, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Daviess County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.702, -87.072 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Decatur

When: May 12, 9:40 PM EST to May 13, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Decatur County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.307, -85.501 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Johnson

When: May 12, 11:00 PM EST to May 13, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Johnson County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.490, -86.102 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Morgan

When: May 12, 11:00 PM EST to May 13, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Morgan County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.482, -86.446 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Shelby

When: May 12, 11:30 PM EST to May 13, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Shelby County, Countywide
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 39.524, -85.792 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Knox

When: May 13, 12:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where: Knox County, Vincennes
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 38.689, -87.418 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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

Every storm in Indiana in 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history Warnings in Indiana, May 2002

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: 5296050, 5295958, 5295959, 5296049, 5296047, 5296046, 5296045, 5296048, 5296051, 5296053, 5296052, 5296054, 5296055, 5296057, 5296056, 5296058, 5296059, 5296060, 5296061, 5296062, 5296063, 5296064, 5296065, 5296066, 5296067, 5296110, 5296111, 5296112, 5296113, 5296114, 5296115, 5296116, 5296117.