Flooding occurred across central Indiana due to heavy rain and snow melt. A few observers in south central and southeast Indiana received more than a foot of snow and a foot of rain during March.
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.
Flooding occurred across central Indiana due to heavy rain and snow melt. A few observers in south central and southeast Indiana received more than a foot of snow and a foot of rain during March. During March the focus for the heavy rain and snow events shifted from northern Indiana to southern Indiana. Rain of one to three inches fell on the 3rd and 4th. The heaviest rain fell in southern Indiana. As the lowland flooding was beginning to subside, a large March snow storm struck portions of Indiana, Kentucky, and all of Ohio on the 7th and 8th. Snow of one to nearly fifteen inches fell in Indiana south and east of Indianapolis. There was a sharp gradient with the heaviest snow. While the Indianapolis airport measured slightly over an inch of snow, the Columbus area received over nine inches. The snow began to melt on the 9th and was completely gone by the 13th. The melting snow in southeast and south central Indiana caused a slight rise on the East Fork White River and kept the river high.
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 Mar 3, 6:25 AM EST, 35 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN 625 AM EST MON MAR 3 2008 .DISCUSSION... AVIATION...FOR THE 12Z TAFS FCST PERIOD WILL BEGIN WITH VFR. BUT AS FRONT AND ASSOCIATED RAIN MOVES IN IFR CIGS AND VSBYS SHOULD BOTH DEVELOP FROM WEST FROM 13Z-17Z. IFR WILL LIKELY CONTINUE FOR REST OF PERIOD AS LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING UP FROM SOUTH CAUSES FRONT AND ASSOCIATED RAIN TO STALL OVER AREA. FROM 00Z TO 06Z TONIGHT FALLING TEMPERATURES WILL CAUSE ZR AND SN TO DEVELOP AT HUF...IND...AND LAF SITES. BEFORE FRONT ARRIVES EXPECT SOUTH WINDS AT 15-25 KTS WITH GUSTS TO 30 KNOTS. AFTER FROPA WINDS MOSTLY NORTH 15-20 KTS GUSTING TO 25 KTS. && PUBLIC...FORECAST FOCUS IS ON UPCOMING SYSTEM ON MON/TUES. HEAVY RAIN TODAY/TONIGHT...WINTRY MIX INCLUDING FREEZING RAIN POTENTIAL TONIGHT/TUES... STORM IN QUESTION WAS SPINNING ACROSS NM THIS MORNING. IT APPEARS SOMEWHAT SLOWER THAN THE 00Z ETA/GFS FCSTS SINCE IT JUST NOW AT 08Z APPEARS TO BE MOVING SSE. SUBTLE INITIAL WAVE WAS LOCATED ACROSS OK WHERE PRECIP SHIELD WAS INCREASING RAPIDLY. A WEAK SFC WAVE WAS LOCATED ALONG THE COLD FRONT ACROSS MO. THE COLD FRONT WAS MOVING INTO WESTERN IL WHERE AIR TEMPS FALL FROM THE 50S TO THE MID 30S. FREEZING RAIN/MIXED PRECIP WAS OCCURRING ACROSS IA/NORTHERN MO. AIR TEMPS REMAIN VERY MILD ACROSS IN THIS AM. EXPECT ANOTHER WARM DAY AT LEAST THROUGH MIDDAY BEFORE RAIN AND THE COLD FRONT MOVE INTO THE AREA. ONLY SUBTLE DIFFERENCES EXIST IN THE HANDLING OF THE MAIN SFC/UPPER FEATURES BETWEEN THE GFS/ETA. ECMWF ALSO AGREES IN GENERAL WITH THE TIMING AND LOCATION OF THE 500MB LOW TRACK AND SFC LOW TRACK. WILL USE A BLEND OF THE MODELS WITH A PREFERENCE FOR THE ECMWF QPF. TODAY...AS MENTIONED WARM TEMPS WILL PERSIST THROUGH 18Z WITH THE FRONT FCST TO MOVE THROUGH LAF AROUND 18Z AND IND AROUND 21Z. RAIN WILL DEVELOP AND CATEGORICAL PRECIP CHCS LOOK GOOD BY AFTERNOON/EVENING. WINDS THIS MORNING INTO MIDDAY WILL ALSO GUST TO 40 MPH AT TIMES GIVEN WINDS WITHIN THE MIXING LAYER THIS AM. TONIGHT...STRONG 850MB FRONTOGENESIS PERSISTS ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST HALF OF THE CWA WHILE FORCING WEAKENS ACROSS THE NW. THIS SUGGESTS THAT THE HEAVIEST PRECIP WILL OCCUR ACROSS THE SE OVERNIGHT WHERE 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN MAY FALL. THICKNESSES SHOW A MIX ACROSS THE NW HALF IS POSSIBLE AFTER MIDNIGHT. SOUNDINGS SHOW THE SAME FROM HUF/IND TO MIE AND LAF WHERE A MIX OF SLEET/RAIN/FREEZING RAIN APPEARS POSSIBLE. FCST SFC AIR TEMPS FROM GUIDANCE AND SOUNDINGS SHOW TEMPS FALLING TO NEAR OR JUST BELOW FREEZING FROM I-70 NORTH OVERNIGHT. NOT OVERLY IMPRESSED WITH FREEZING RAIN SET UP SINCE THE PRECIP SHIELD WILL BE MOVING SE TONIGHT AS THE COLD AIR MOVES INTO THE AREA. HOWEVER GIVEN SOUNDINGS/THICKNESSES AND QPF AMOUNTS IT APPEARS THAT THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR UP TO AROUND ONE QUARTER INCH OF ICE COULD OCCUR IF ENOUGH COLD AIR ARRIVES BEFORE THE HEAVIEST PRECIP ENDS OVERNIGHT. WILL ISSUE A WATCH FOR THIS POTENTIAL TONIGHT THROUGH EARLY TUES. TUES...UPPER SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA WITH CONTINUED WARMING ALOFT EXPECTED THROUGH MIDDAY BEFORE THE SYSTEM MOVES EAST/NE AND COLDER AIR WORKS IN TO CHANCE THE RAIN/FREEZING PRECIP TO SNOW. ANY FREEZING RAIN SHOULD END BY MIDDAY AS AIR TEMPS WILL RISE TO ABOVE FREEZING ALL AREAS SO THIS WILL ALSO WORK TO LIMIT ICE ACCUMS AND MITIGATE IMPACTS. ANY SNOW ACCUMS SHOULD BE IN THE 1 TO 3 INCH RANGE AND MAINLY ACROSS THE WESTERN COUNTIES NEAR THE IL BORDER. WOULD EXPECT ANY SNOW IN THE INDY METRO AREA TO BE LESS THAN ONE INCH. TUES NIGHT AND BEYOND...NO CHANGES PLANNED AT THIS TIME WITH ANOTHER CHC FOR RAIN/SNOW THURS. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...FLOOD WATCH ENTIRE CWA 18Z MONDAY TO 18Z TUESDAY. WINTER STORM WATCH FOR FREEZING RAIN POTENTIAL 03Z TONIGHT THROUGH 18Z TUES FOR AREAS NORTH OF I-70. && AVIATION...JK PUBLIC...CO
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN 532 AM EST MON MAR 3 2008 INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>055-041045- CARROLL-WARREN-TIPPECANOE-CLINTON-HOWARD-FOUNTAIN-MONTGOMERY- BOONE-TIPTON-HAMILTON-MADISON-DELAWARE-RANDOLPH-VERMILLION-PARKE- PUTNAM-HENDRICKS-MARION-HANCOCK-HENRY-VIGO-CLAY-OWEN-MORGAN- JOHNSON- 532 AM EST MON MAR 3 2008 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON... ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL INDIANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. RAIN AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP TODAY. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS WILL BE POSSIBLE TODAY INTO TONIGHT. BY THIS EVENING...MUCH COLDER AIR WILL CAUSE TEMPERATURES TO FALL TO NEAR FREEZING. THE RAIN MAY CHANGE TO FREEZING RAIN TONIGHT. SOME ICE ACCUMULATION WILL BE POSSIBLE TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. A MIXTURE OF FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET WILL GRADUALLY CHANGE TO RAIN AND SNOW BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON. THE THREAT FOR A WINTRY MIX OF PRECIPITATION WILL LINGER INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. THERE IS ANOTHER CHANCE FOR RAIN OR SNOW THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED HOWEVER RAINFALL REPORTS AND FLOODING REPORTS ARE ENCOURAGED. IN ADDITION...ANY REPORTS OF FREEZING PRECIPITATION ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TONIGHT AND TUESDAY. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/IND (ALL LOWERCASE) INZ056-057-060>065-067>072-041045- SHELBY-RUSH-SULLIVAN-GREENE-MONROE-BROWN-BARTHOLOMEW-DECATUR-KNOX- DAVIESS-MARTIN-LAWRENCE-JACKSON-JENNINGS- 532 AM EST MON MAR 3 2008 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL INDIANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. RAIN AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP TODAY. THE RAIN MAY BE HEAVY AT TIMES THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT. AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES WILL BE COMMON WITH LOCALLY HEAVIER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THE RAIN WILL BECOME A MIXTURE OF RAIN AND SNOW BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND TUESDAY NIGHT. LITTLE OR NO SNOW ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. THERE IS A CHANCE FOR RAIN OR SNOW THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED HOWEVER RAINFALL REPORTS AND FLOODING REPORTS ARE ENCOURAGED. IN ADDITION...ANY REPORTS OF FREEZING PRECIPITATION ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TONIGHT AND TUESDAY. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/IND (ALL LOWERCASE) CO
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
22 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flooding occurred along the Wabash River in Fountain County, including near Covington, due to heavy rain and snow melt.
Flooding occurred along the Wabash River in eastern Warren County due to heavy rain and snow melt.
Flooding occurred along the East Fork White River in Jackson County, including near Sparksville, due to heavy rain and snow melt. Flooding continued until April 17th at 07:00.
Flooding occurred along the Wabash River in Tippecanoe County, including near Lafayette, due to heavy rain and snow melt.
Flooding occurred along the Wabash River in Parke County, including near Montezuma, due to heavy rain and snow melt. Flooding continued into April until the morning of April 9th at 00:30.
Flooding occurred along the Wabash River in eastern Vermillion County due to heavy rain and snow melt. Flooding continued until April 9th at 00:30.
Flooding occurred along the Wabash River in Sullivan County, including near Riverton, due to heavy rain and snow melt. Flooding continued until April 19th at 04:30.
Flooding occurred along the Wabash River in Vigo County, including near Terre Haute, due to heavy rain and snow melt. Flooding continued until April 9th at 05:10.
Flooding occurred along the Muscatatuck River in Jackson County, including near Wheeler Hollow, due to heavy rain and snow melt. Flooding continued until April 17th at 16:33.
Flooding occurred along the White River in Greene County, including near Elliston, due to heavy rain and snow melt.
Flooding occurred along the Big Blue River in Shelby County, including in Shelbyville, due to heavy rain and snow melt.
Flooding occurred along the White River in southeastern Knox County due to heavy rain and snow melt.
Flooding occurred along the White River in Morgan County, including near Centerton, due to heavy rain and snow melt.
Flooding occurred along the White River in Greene County, including near Newberry, due to heavy rain and snow melt.
Flooding occurred along the East Fork White River in Jackson County, including near Rockford and Seymour, due to heavy rain and snow melt.
Flooding occurred along Sugar Creek in Johnson County, including near Edinburgh, due to heavy rain and snow melt.
Flooding occurred along the White River in Owen County, including near Spencer, due to heavy rain and snow melt.
Flooding occurred along the White River in western Daviess County due to heavy rain and snow melt.
Flooding occurred along the White River in Knox County, including near Edwardsport, due to heavy rain and snow melt.
Flooding occurred along the White River in southern Knox County due to heavy rain and snow melt.
Flooding occurred along the East Fork White River in Bartholomew County, including near Columbus, due to heavy rain and snow melt.
Flooding occurred along the Wabash River in southwestern Knox County due to heavy rain and snow melt.
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, March 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: 81649, 81651, 84824, 81647, 81652, 81654, 84248, 81655, 84309, 81658, 82949, 81664, 82925, 81659, 82972, 84305, 81657, 81660, 81662, 81666, 82963, 84261.