Massive and historic flooding struck central Indiana. In Indiana alone, flood waters affected over 25,000 people.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS IND wrote it up.
Massive and historic flooding struck central Indiana. In Indiana alone, flood waters affected over 25,000 people. This flood affected about 9% of the state's farmland. The Great Flood of June 2008 was one of Indiana's costliest natural disasters. Heavy rainfall on May 30th allowed streams and rivers to rise. Additional heavy rainfall on the 3rd and the 4th added to these high levels. Severe weather brought heavy rainfall on the 6th as well. The stage was set for historic flooding in portions of central and southern Indiana. The storms on the 6th exacerbated the situation by laying down a boundary in southern Illinois and southern Indiana. A moist southerly low level jet rode over this boundary for more than 12 hours continually generating showers and thunderstorms. Rainfall of two to nearly eleven inches fell across portions of central and southern Indiana. The impact of the rain was immediate with widespread flooding developing and major roads and interstates flooded. This episode is in reference to flooding of the White River.
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 Jun 4, 1:30 AM EST, 9 hours 30 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN 230 AM EDT WED JUN 4 2008 .DISCUSSION...A WARM FRONT WAS STRETCHED ACRS THE NRN PARTS OF CENTRAL INDIANA EARLY THIS MORNING. RADAR SHOWS NMRS TSRA NEAR AND ALONG THE FRONT...PUSHING EAST WITH ADDITIONAL STORMS OVER CENTRAL IL. SKIES WERE CLOUDY AS THE MCS CONTINUED TO GROW. SFC DEW POINTS WERE IN THE UPPER 60S TO AROUND 70 AND SFC FLOW WAS SE ACRS MUCH OF THE FA...AND MORE EASTERLY ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE FRONT. MAIN FORECAST CHALLENGE TDY WL ONCE AGAIN BE POPS. MODELS REMAIN IN PRETTY GOOD AGREEMENT WITH THE OVERALL PATTERN AND WL USE A BLEND. FORECAST SOUNDINGS CONTINUE TO SHOW PLENTY OF CAPE AVAILABLE TDY ACRS THE FA...IN EXCESS OF 2K J/KG. WITH PLENTY OF BOUNDARIES IN THE AREA FROM PREVIOUS CONVECTION ALONG WITH DECENT DAYTIME HEATING EXPECTED...WL RAISE POP TDY FOR TSRA...ESPECIALLY CLOSE TO THE FRONT. PWATS TDY REMAIN BETWEEN 1.5 AND 2.0 INCHES...AND GIVEN THIS WL EXTEND THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH ACRS THE NRN PARTS OF THE FA UNTIL 400 PM. ACRS THE SRN PART OF THE FA WL STICK CLOSE TO MAVMOS POPS AS LWR LVL CONVERGENCE WL NOT BE AS STRONG AND H8-H7 TEMPS WL BE A BIT WARMER...RESULTING IN A STRONGER CAP. EXPECT THE TSRA THREAT TO DIMINISH AS THE DAY PROGRESSES THOUGH...ESPECIALLY BY EARL THIS EVENING AS H7 TEMPS RISE OVR 10C...RESULTING IN A STRONGER CAP AND THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY CONTINUES TO PUSH FARTHER NORTH. GIVEN SOME OF THE LINGERING CLOUDS AND PCPN WL LEAN TO THE COOLER SIDE OF THE MAVMOS FOR HIGHS. TONIGHTS FORECAST SOUNDINGS INDICATE A STRONG CAP THAT WL BE IN PLACE THROUGH THURSDAY AS H7 TEMPS RISE TO 13C. WITH PLENTY OF MOISTURE STILL LINGERING DO NOT EXPECT CLEARING SKIES AS SOME CLOUDS WL BE LURKING. ALONG WITH A SOUTHERLY FLOW AND DEW POINTS TEMPS IN THE SWEATY UPPER 60S TO AROUND 70...LOWS SHUD BE AOA MAVMOS LVL. LITTLE CHANGE FOR THE FORECAST ON THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT. WARM SOUTHERLY FLOW CONTINUES AND CAP REMAINS IN PLACE. WL LEAVE POPS OUT FOR NOW...BUT GIVEN ALL OF THE PCPN WE HAVE SEEN THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS...FEEL TEMPS WL HAVE DIFFICULTY REACHING 90 AND MANY LOCATIONS. WL KEEP TO THE UPPER 80S AT MANY LOCATIONS...BUT WITH DEW POINTS NEAR 70...HI/S WL FEEL LIKE THE MIDDLE 90S. ANOTHER WARM DAY APPEARS IN STORE FOR FRIDAY AS AN UPPER TROF APPROACHES FROM THE CENTRAL PLAINS. THIS FORCING SHUD ONCE AGAIN BRING CHCS FOR TSRA TO INDIANA...BUT WL TRY AND FOCUS THIS TO THE AFTERNOON AS DAYTIME HEATING WL BE MORE FAVORABLE THEN AND THESE LARGER TROFS OFTEN SLOW DOWN IN THEIR PROGRESSION. THIS PATTERN WL PERSIST INTO SATURDAY...AND WL KEEP TSRA CHCS THEN. ONGOING FORECAST HANDLES THIS WELL. AS FOR THE EXTENDED... SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...AT THIS TIME IT LOOKS MOSTLY DRY AND UNSEASONABLY WARM FRO THE EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK. THERE COULD BE SOME ISOLATED TSRA ON SUN/MON BUT THIS FAR OUT ITS A VERY LOW CHANCE TO MENTION WITH SUCH HIGH UNCERTAINTY. && .AVIATION...DISCUSSION FOR 06Z TAFS SHOWERS AND STORMS TO IMPACT MOSTLY THE TERMINALS AT LAF AND IND...AND STAY NORTH OF BMG AND HUF. CONDITIONS SHOULD BECOME MVFR LATER TONIGHT IN PATCHY FOG AND BORDERLINE CIGS. BUT THEN VFR AFTER 14Z AND REMAINING THAT WAY. ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE AFTER 21Z AND WILL MENTION VCTS FOR NOW. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR ENTIRE CWA UNTIL 10AM EDT WEDNESDAY MORNING...AND NRN PARTS OF CENTRAL INDIANA UNTIL 400 PM. AVIATION...LJ PUBLIC...PUMA EXTENDED...SALLY
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN 341 AM EDT WED JUN 4 2008 INZ021-030-031-036>042-045>049-052>057-061>065-068>072-050745- CARROLL-CLINTON-HOWARD-MONTGOMERY-BOONE-TIPTON-HAMILTON-MADISON- DELAWARE-RANDOLPH-PUTNAM-HENDRICKS-MARION-HANCOCK-HENRY-CLAY-OWEN- MORGAN-JOHNSON-SHELBY-RUSH-GREENE-MONROE-BROWN-BARTHOLOMEW- DECATUR-DAVIESS-MARTIN-LAWRENCE-JACKSON-JENNINGS- 341 AM EDT WED JUN 4 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL INDIANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS CENTRAL INDIANA TODAY. MORE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS CENTRAL INDIANA THIS MORNING AND THIS AFTERNOON. THE STORMS WILL HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO PRODUCE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...ISOLATED TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN RESULTING IN FLASH FLOODING...AND DEADLY LIGHTNING. THE THUNDERSTORM THREAT IS EXPECTED TO DIMINISH TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY BUT IT IS TOO EARLY TO TELL IF SEVERE WEATHER WILL OCCUR THEN. REMEMBER THAT DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS ALWAYS A THREAT IN ANY THUNDERSTORM. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED TODAY. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/IND (ALL LOWERCASE) INZ028-029-035-043-044-051-060-067-050745- WARREN-TIPPECANOE-FOUNTAIN-VERMILLION-PARKE-VIGO-SULLIVAN-KNOX- 341 AM EDT WED JUN 4 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL INDIANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS CENTRAL INDIANA TODAY. MORE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS CENTRAL INDIANA THIS MORNING AND THIS AFTERNOON. THE STORMS WILL HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO PRODUCE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...ISOLATED TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN RESULTING IN FLASH FLOODING...AND DEADLY LIGHTNING. THE THUNDERSTORM THREAT IS EXPECTED TO DIMINISH TONIGHT. LOWLAND FLOODING ON THE WABASH RIVER WILL CONTINUE TODAY. SEE THE LATEST HYDROLOGIC STATEMENTS FOR DETAILED INFORMATION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY BUT IT IS TOO EARLY TO TELL IF SEVERE WEATHER WILL OCCUR THEN. REMEMBER THAT DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS ALWAYS A THREAT IN ANY THUNDERSTORM. LOWLAND FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE WABASH RIVER THROUGH MID WEEK. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST HYDROLOGIC STATEMENTS FOR DETAILED INFORMATION. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED TODAY. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/IND (ALL LOWERCASE) PUMA
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
647 AM EDT WED JUN 04 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0644 AM FLASH FLOOD 8 N TERRE HAUTE 39.59N 87.38W
06/04/2008 VIGO IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
HIGH WATER AT STATE ROAD 63 AND US 150 IN NORTHERN VIGO
COUNTY
&&
JOHNSONPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
718 AM EDT WED JUN 04 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0715 AM TSTM WND DMG BLOOMFIELD 39.03N 86.94W
06/04/2008 GREENE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
SEVERAL LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN NEAR THE HIGH SCHOOL IN
BLOOMFIELD
&&
JOHNSONPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
719 AM EDT WED JUN 04 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0613 AM FLASH FLOOD 3 N BROWNSBURG 39.88N 86.39W
06/04/2008 HENDRICKS IN TRAINED SPOTTER
3.64 INCHES OF RAIN IN THE PAST 24 HOURS. SMALL CREEK
NORMALLY 20 WIDE IS NOW 500 FEET WIDE.
&&
JPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
729 AM EDT WED JUN 04 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0729 AM FLASH FLOOD 3 S PARAGON 39.35N 86.56W
06/04/2008 MORGAN IN TRAINED SPOTTER
ESTIMATED 3 INCHES OF RAIN WITH TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR
OCCURRING. NUMEROUS COUNTY ROADS BECOMING IMPASSABLE AND
SMALL STREAMS WELL OUT OF THEIR BANKS.
&&
JOHNSONPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
807 AM EDT WED JUN 04 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0805 AM FLASH FLOOD 3 E BAINBRIDGE 39.76N 86.75W
06/04/2008 PUTNAM IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
WATER OVER U S 36. RECORD FLOOD IN PROGRESS ON PLUM
CREEK.
&&
APSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
1007 AM EDT WED JUN 04 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0900 AM FLASH FLOOD 10 NE INDIANAPOLIS 39.88N 86.01W
06/04/2008 MARION IN PUBLIC
2 1/2 TO 3 FT OF WATER OVER ROADWAY AT 75TH ST AND
BINFORD AVE. SUV STRANDED. OTHER VEHICLES APPARENTLY
MAKING IT THROUGH WATER.
&&
HEROLDThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flooding occurred along the White River in Greene County, including near Elliston and Newberry, due to heavy rain and levee breaches.
Flooding occurred along the White River in Morgan County, including near Centerton, due to heavy rain.
Flooding occurred along the White River in Owen County, including near Spencer, due to heavy rain.
Flooding occurred along the White River in Delaware County, including near Muncie, due to heavy rain.
Flooding occurred along the White River in Madison County, including near Anderson, due to heavy rain.
Flooding occurred along the White River in Daviess County, including near Edwardsport, due to heavy rain and a breach in a levee. A levee just downstream of Elnora blew out and sandbags were scattered more than a half mile downstream.
Flooding occurred along the White River in Knox County, including near the Petersburg, Hazleton, and Edwardsport areas, due to heavy rain and levee breaches. Levee unit 8 failed in the Smother's Creek area near Edwardsport. The levee breach failure caused the White River to crest at Edwardsport. More than 20,000 acres of Daviess County flooded as a result of the levee failure.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, June 2008
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: 116753, 116749, 116751, 116740, 116744, 116754, 116756.