Rain of 1 to more than 4 inches fell in much of central Indiana on the last three days of April. Another round of widespread lowland flooding was on the way for May.
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.
Rain of 1 to more than 4 inches fell in much of central Indiana on the last three days of April. Another round of widespread lowland flooding was on the way for May.
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 Apr 29, 1:46 PM EST, 4 hours 29 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN 246 PM EDT WED APR 29 2009 .DISCUSSION.. FORECAST FOCUS IS ON RAIN THREAT INTO THE WEEKEND...AND THE POSSIBILITY OF HEAVY RAIN AND SEVERE WEATHER. AT 18Z A WARM FRONT WAS ACROSS SOUTHERN FORECAST AREA /FA/. TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE MID 50S ACROSS NERN FA UNDER CLOUDY SKIES WHILE SWRN FA WAS IN THE MID 70S WITH SOME SUN GETTING THROUGH. ISOLD SHRA WERE DEVELOPING ACROSS SRN FA. MODELS ARE IN FAIR AGREEMENT WITH BIG PICTURE. IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE COMES IN ON THU WHEN NAM SHOWS A SFC LOW MOVING INTO NWRN IN ALONG WIHT A STRONGER WIND FIELD. GFS DOES NOT HAVE THE CLOSED LOW AND HAS A WEAKER WIND FIELD. THE 00Z ECMWF ALSO HAS A SIMILAR SFC LOW...SO THE NAM MAY BE ON TO SOMETHING. WHILE I BELIEVE THE NAM IS PROBABLY OVERDOING THE WIND FIELD /AS ECMWF IS WEAKER HERE/ CANNOT IGNORE THAT BOTH NAM/ECMWF HAVE THE LOW...SO WILL GO WITH THOSE MODELS ON THU. OTHERWISE WENT WITH A BLEND OF ALL MODELS. COULD BE SOME ONGOING ISOLD-SCT CONVECTION ACROSS THE FA AT 00Z AS THE WARM FRONT WILL BE IN THE AREA ALONG WITH AN UNSTABLE ATMS. OVERNIGHT AN UPPER WAVE WILL APPROACH THE FA FROM THE SW. BEST LIFT AND MOISTURE REMAIN JUST TO THE SW OF THE FA BY 12Z. WILL GO LOW POPS BEFORE 06Z TO COVER THE EVENING CONVECTION. AFT 06Z WILL GO LIKELY POPS FAR SWRN FA AND CHANCE ELSEWHERE. MET IS CURRENTLY TOO WARM ACROSS MUCH OF THE FA...SO WILL GO CLOSER TO THE SLIGHTLY COOLER MAV FOR LOWS TONIGHT. ON THURSDAY THE UPPER WAVE MOVES ACROSS THE FA. STRONG LIFT /AS CAN BE SEEN IN ISENTROPIC AND QVECTOR PROGS/ WILL ACCOMPANY IT...AND MOISTURE WILL BE AVAILABLE AS THE WARM FRONT WILL HAVE MOVED THROUGH THE FA BY MORNING. WILL GO CATEGORICAL POPS ALL AREAS. PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES IN EXCESS OF 1.5 INCHES WILL BE ACROSS THE FA. PARTS OF THE FA...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE I-70 CORRIDOR...HAVE ALREADY SEEN HEAVY RAIN IN THE PAST FEW DAYS. AFTER COLLABORATION WITH SURROUNDING OFFICES...HAVE DECIDED TO HOLD OFF ON A FLOOD WATCH FOR NOW. HOWEVER WILL INCLUDE HEAVY RAIN MENTION IN THE GRIDS/ZFP AS WELL AS THE HWO. INSTABILITY WILL NOT BE THAT IMPRESSIVE WITH PRECIP AROUND DURING THE DAY. NAM80 MUCAPES REMAIN LESS THAN 1000 J/KG ACROSS MOST OF THE FA. HOWEVER THE RELATIVELY STRONG WINDS ALOFT STILL POSE SOME CONCERN FOR SEVERE WEATHER...AND SPC HAS FA IN SLIGHT RISK. THE UPPER WAVE WILL MOVE EAST OF THE FA DURING THE AFTN AND SOME SUN MAY BREAK OUT. THIS WILL HELP TEMPS REACH THE MAV NUMBERS. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA LATE THU NIGHT AND THEN MOVE SLOWLY THRU THE FA ON FRI. AGAIN PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES WILL BE HIGH...SO CONTINUED MENTION OF HEAVY RAIN. CURRENT EXPECTED TIMING OF FRONT PUTS SRN FA IN BEST CHANCES FOR SEVERE STORMS FRI AFTN. NAM/GFS BOTH FORECAST MUCAPES OF AROUND 1500 ACROSS SRN FA FRI AFTN. WILL CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT IN HWO. UNCERTAINTY STILL EXISTS FOR CHANCES FOR RAIN SAT INTO MON. WILL FOR NOW KEEP CHANCES CONFINED MAINLY TO SRN FA CLOSER TO THE OLD FRONT. SATURDAY MAY BE COOLER THAN CURRENTLY INDICATED IF CLOUDS HOLD IN. NAM 2M TEMPS ARE IN THE LOWER 50S. FOR NOW JUST STARTED THE COOLER TREND AND LOWERED HIGHS TO THE LOWER 60S. && .AVIATION...DISCUSSION FOR 18Z TAF ISSUANCE. THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE MOVED E OF THE TERMINALS EARLY THIS AFTERNOON LEAVING BEHIND IFR CIGS. HOWEVER...CIGS WERE BEGINNING TO SLOWLY APPROACH MVFR AT BMG FOLLOWING A WARM FRONTAL PASSAGE. HIGH RES RUC WAS ALSO SHOWING THE INVERSION THERE WAS GONE AND VSBL SATELLITE WAS SHOWING SUCKER HOLES. THE WARM FNT SHOULD CONT TO LIFT NE AND BE NEAR IND AND LAF AT 06Z. STILL...CIGS SHOULD IMPV SOME N OF THE FNT AFT 20Z AS THE RUC WAS SHOWING INVERSIONS BREAKING UP THERE AS WELL. LOTS OF LOW LVL MOISTURE TNGT AND MODEL SOUNDINGS SHOWING THE INVERSION SETTING UP AGAIN. SO...CIGS SHOULD AGAIN BE IFR OR WORSE. ALSO...COULD BE SOME IFR FOG ESP AT HUF WHERE THE HEAVIEST RAINS FELL LAST NIGHT. MEANWHILE...UPR WAVE TO MOVE ACRS CNTRL INDIANA AFTER 12Z THU WELL AHEAD OF A CD FNT. THIS WL BRING WIDESPREAD RWS IN AFT 11Z THU. ENOUGH INSTABILITY PER MU MODEL CAPES TO THROW CBS IN IN THE MRNG AND VCTS IN THE AFTERNOON. SE WINDS LESS THAN 10 KTS TODAY AND TNGT TO SHIFT TO THE S AND INCRS TO 15 KTS OR MORE THU AFTERNOON. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && PUBLIC...CS AVIATION...MK
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN 336 PM EDT WED APR 29 2009 INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-061>065-068>072-301945- 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-SHELBY-RUSH-GREENE-MONROE-BROWN-BARTHOLOMEW-DECATUR- DAVIESS-MARTIN-LAWRENCE-JACKSON-JENNINGS- 336 PM EDT WED APR 29 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL INDIANA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE NIGHT. SEVERE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED. SOME STORMS MAY PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN THAT MAY CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADWAYS. LIGHTNING WILL BE A HAZARD WITH ANY STORM THAT FORMS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ON THURSDAY...AND A FEW OF THESE STORMS MAY BE SEVERE. DAMAGING WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREATS. MINOR FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS MAY OCCUR. ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY NIGHT. PRESENT INDICATIONS ARE THAT SOME STORMS MAY BE SEVERE AGAIN ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON. HEAVY RAIN AND LIGHTNING WILL BE A THREAT WITH ANY STORM THAT FORMS. THE THREAT FOR MINOR FLOODING ALONG AREA RIVERS WILL INCREASE AGAIN INTO THE WEEKEND DUE TO THE EXPECTED RAINFALL. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS POSSIBLE THURSDAY. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/IND (ALL LOWERCASE) INZ060-067-301945- SULLIVAN-KNOX- 336 PM EDT WED APR 29 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL INDIANA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE NIGHT. SEVERE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED. SOME STORMS MAY PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN THAT MAY CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADWAYS. LIGHTNING WILL BE A HAZARD WITH ANY STORM THAT FORMS. LOWLAND FLOODING CONTINUES ALONG THE WABASH RIVER. SEE THE LATEST HYDROLOGIC STATEMENT FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ON THURSDAY...AND A FEW OF THESE STORMS MAY BE SEVERE. DAMAGING WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREATS. MINOR FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS MAY OCCUR. ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY NIGHT. PRESENT INDICATIONS ARE THAT SOME STORMS MAY BE SEVERE AGAIN ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON. HEAVY RAIN AND LIGHTNING WILL BE A THREAT WITH ANY STORM THAT FORMS. THE THREAT FOR MINOR FLOODING ALONG AREA RIVERS WILL INCREASE AGAIN INTO THE WEEKEND DUE TO THE EXPECTED RAINFALL. LOWLAND FLOODING CONTINUES ALONG THE WABASH RIVER. SEE THE LATEST HYDROLOGIC STATEMENT FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS POSSIBLE ON THURSDAY. && MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/IND (ALL LOWERCASE)
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flooding occurred along the White River in and near Elliston, Indiana. Flooding continued into May, with the river cresting then.
Flooding occurred along the White River in and near Newberry, Indiana. Flooding continued into May, with the river cresting then.
Flooding occurred along the White River in and near Edwardsport, Indiana. Flooding continued into May, with the river cresting then.
Flooding occurred along the White River west of Plainville of Daviess County, along the river across from Edwardsport in neighboring Knox County. Flooding continued into May, with the river cresting then.
Flooding occurred along the Wabash River in and near Vincennes, Indiana. Flooding continued into May, with the river cresting then. Flooding was minor in April.
Flooding of bottomlands occurred along the Wabash River near Hillsdale, Indiana. The river crested twice, both of which were in May. Again, flooding continued into May.
Flooding of bottomlands occurred along the Wabash River in and near Montezuma, Indiana. The river crested twice, both of which were in May. Again, flooding continued into May.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, April 2009
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: 168533, 168545, 168537, 168542, 168513, 168504, 168506.