Flooding in Indiana, May 13 to 29, 2009

Name: Flooding in Indiana, May 13 to 29, 2009
Start: 2009-05-13T19:00
End: 2009-05-29T18:30
Location: Indiana

May 13 to 29, 2009 · NWS IND · 27 events in 16 counties and zones

The most significant rain of the month soon followed. Rain of 1 to nearly 5 inches fell on the 13th and 14th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: $17,000
Crop damage: $96,000
Events: 27

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.

The most significant rain of the month soon followed. Rain of 1 to nearly 5 inches fell on the 13th and 14th. The heaviest rain of 3 to 5 inches fell generally south of I-70 and north of US 50.

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 13, 6:34 PM EST, 26 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 13, 6:34 PM EST, 26 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
734 PM EDT WED MAY 13 2009

.AVIATION...DISCUSSION FOR THE 14/0000Z TAFS.

COMPLEX FCST FOR THIS TAF PD W/ ONE OR MORE ROUNDS OF TSRA XPCTD
ACRS ALL TERMINALS THRU FROPA EARLY TMRW MRNG /09Z KLAF...10Z
KHUF...11Z KIND-KBMG/ AREA OF TS OVR SRN IL/IN ASSOC W/ OUTFLOW
BOUNDARY AND MCV WL MOVE THROUGH ALL TERMINALS XCPT KLAF IN THE
FIRST 2-3 HOURS OF THE PD. CIGS/VSBYS WL GENERALLY REMAIN VFR. LTR
TNGT...AFT 05Z KLAF-KHUF...AND AFT 07Z KIND-KBMG...ADDITIONAL TSRA
W/ COLD FRONT WL PUSH THRU THE TERMINALS. W/ THIS SLIGHTLY MORE
ORGANIZED ACTIVITY ALONG THE BOUNDARY...MVFR CIGS APPEAR LIKELY.
BRIEF PDS OF IFR CIGS/MVFR OR LOWER VSBYS MAY BE PSBL...BUT
CONFIDENCE IS TOO LOW TO INCLUDE ATTM.

SFC WINDS ARE GUSTY AND WL REMAIN SO AT LEAST UNTIL FROPA...AS
STRONG LLVL JET PROGGED TO DEVELOP OVRNGT JUST AHEAD OF FRONT WL
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT WINDS. WEAKENING PRES GRADIENT POST FROPA WL
ALLOW WINDS TO DECREASE AFTER ABOUT 10-12Z.

.PREVIOUS DISCUSSION /ISSUED 319 PM EDT WED MAY 13 2009/

SHORT TERM...MAIN FORECAST ISSUE IN THE SHORT TERM...IS POSSIBLE
FLOODING WITH MORE HEAVY RAIN EXPECTED LATER TONIGHT. ALSO SEVERE
WEATHER MAY BE A CONCERN LATER TONIGHT.

SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWED HIGH PRESSURE ALONG THE MID ATLANTIC COAST
AND A COLD FRONT FROM EASTERN MINNESOTA TO THE CENTRAL PLAINS. A MCC
CURRENTLY MOVING ACROSS OUR AREA. THIS HAS LEFT A OUTFLOW BOUNDARY
ACROSS OUR SOUTHERN FORECAST AREA INTO CENTRAL MISSOURI.  PRESENT
RADAR LOOPS INDICATE THE CURRENT MCC WILL BE MOVING OUT OF OUR AREA
IN ABOUT 4 HOURS AND NAM/GFS AND RUC INDICATE THERE COULD BE A LULL
IN THE PRECIP THIS EVENING.   THUNDERSTORMS ARE FIRING ACROSS
SOUTHERN MISSOURI AND THIS BEARS WATCHING. FOR THE MOMENT WILL GO
WITH MODELS FOR CENTRAL AND SE SECTIONS AND ONLY INDICATE A CHANCE
OF THUNDERSTORMS THERE THIS EVENING WITH HEAVY RAIN LATE TONIGHT.
PRECIPITABLE WATER TO OUR WEST AROUND 2 INCHES AND MODELS GIVE QPF
UP TO 3 INCHES OVERNIGHT.  OUR WEST CENTRAL HAS ALREADY HAD UP TO 2
INCHES SO FAR TODAY.  WILL ISSUE A FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TONIGHT OVER
ALL BUT OUR FAR SE.

CONVECTION WILL INCREASE OVERNIGHT AS COLD FRONT APPROACHES.  GFS MU
CAPES ARE UP TO 2000 J/KG ACROSS OUR WEST AND NW TONIGHT.  NAM
INCREASES 850 MB WINDS TO 60 KNOTS AHEAD OF COLD FRONT LATE
TONIGHT.  THUS SPC SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER STILL POSSIBLE
LATER TONIGHT.

COLD FRONT MOVES ACROSS OUR AREA THURSDAY MORNING AND WILL END
CHANCES OF PRECIP FROM NW BY MIDDAY.

LONG TERM...FORECAST FOCUS IN THE LONG TERM WL BE POPS FRI-SAT.

THU NT...WITH FNT STALLED NR THE OH RVR WL KEEP CHC POPS IN THE FAR
S.

FRI...FNT MEANDERS BACK N ACRS THE AREA AND INSTABILITY INCREASES.
NO GREAT FORCING MECHANISM THOUGH...JUST SOME WEAK ISENTROPIC LIFT
EARLY AND THEN ANY DIURNAL HEATING IF THE SUN CAN ACTUALLY BREAK OUT
WHICH IS NOT A GIVEN. LLJET REMAINS WELL WEST OF THE AREA AS DO GOOD
DYNAMICS. CURRENTLY NOT OVERLY EXCITED ABOUT SVR POTENTIAL BUT WL
HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE NEXT SET OF MODEL RUNS.

FRI NT-SAT NT...S/W AND COLD FNT MV THRU THE FA. DIFFERENCE IN
TIMING OF COLD FROPA WITH GFS ABOUT 6 HOURS OR SO FASTER THAN THE
NAM AND HAVING IT MOSTLY THRU BY 12Z. NAM SEEMS TO HAVE SUPPORT OF
0Z ECMWF AND GFSENS BUT GFS HAS SUPPORT OF SREF. HPC SUGGESTS LARGER
CONSENSUS AROUND NAM. WITH ALL THIS IN MIND WL LEAN TOWARD NAM AND
FCST SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS ISSUANCE WITH HIGH CHC POPS FRI NT...LIKELY
POPS SAT AND CHC SE TO SLT CHC NW SAT NT.

FOR TEMPS THUR THRU FRI NT GUIDANCE IN GOOD AGREEMENT SO USED A
MAV/MET AVERAGE.

EXTENDED...LOOKS DRY AS BROAD HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES IN OVER THE AREA
AFTER COLD FROPA SATURDAY. COOLER TEMPS /HIGHS IN THE 60S AND LOWS
IN THE 40S/ SAT NT THRU MON AS BACK SIDE OF UPR LVL TROF KEEPS
COOLER H8 TEMPS OVR THE AREA. STUCK WITH HPC GUIDANCE.

&&

.IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING FOR INZ021-028>031-035>048-
051>055-060>062-067>069.

&&

AVIATION...NIELD
SHORT TERM...JH
LONG TERM...CP

Hazardous weather outlook, May 13, 3:40 PM EST, 3 hours 20 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
440 PM EDT WED MAY 13 2009

INZ021-030-031-036>042-045>049-054>057-062>065-069-070-072-142045-
CARROLL-CLINTON-HOWARD-MONTGOMERY-BOONE-TIPTON-HAMILTON-MADISON-
DELAWARE-RANDOLPH-PUTNAM-HENDRICKS-MARION-HANCOCK-HENRY-MORGAN-
JOHNSON-SHELBY-RUSH-MONROE-BROWN-BARTHOLOMEW-DECATUR-MARTIN-
LAWRENCE-JENNINGS-
440 PM EDT WED MAY 13 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL INDIANA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS CENTRAL
INDIANA ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM MUNCIE TO SEYMOUR. THE
GREATEST THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE IN WEST CENTRAL INDIANA
IN THE WABASH VALLEY.

THIS EVENING OCCASIONAL THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED. HEAVY RAIN
IS ANTICIPATED WITH THESE STORMS AND AREAL FLOODING IS POSSIBLE. WIDESPREAD
SEVERE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED UNTIL LATER...HOWEVER AN ISOLATED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...OR AN
ISOLATED TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT.

AFTER MIDNIGHT...AN APPROACHING STRONG COLD FRONT WILL ALLOW FOR
THE POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF ORGANIZED SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS
CENTRAL INDIANA. DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...FREQUENT CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY RAIN WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREATS.
ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THE SEVERE THREAT WILL
DIMINISH TOWARDS DAYBREAK THURSDAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO BE ONGOING THURSDAY MORNING BUT ARE
EXPECTED TO DIMINISH BEFORE NOON. SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED
THURSDAY MORNING.

ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY
NIGHT. AT THIS TIME THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
FOR CENTRAL INDIANA ON FRIDAY. LIGHTNING IS A THREAT WITH ANY
THUNDERSTORM.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TONIGHT. SPOTTERS ARE ALSO
ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY FLOODING ON ROADWAYS.

&&

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>053-071-142045-
WARREN-TIPPECANOE-FOUNTAIN-VERMILLION-PARKE-VIGO-CLAY-OWEN-
JACKSON-
440 PM EDT WED MAY 13 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL INDIANA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS CENTRAL
INDIANA ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM MUNCIE TO SEYMOUR. THE
GREATEST THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE IN WEST CENTRAL INDIANA
IN THE WABASH VALLEY.

THIS EVENING OCCASIONAL THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED. HEAVY RAIN
IS ANTICIPATED WITH THESE STORMS AND AREAL FLOODING IS POSSIBLE. WIDESPREAD
SEVERE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED UNTIL LATER...HOWEVER AN ISOLATED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...OR AN
ISOLATED TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT.

AFTER MIDNIGHT...AN APPROACHING STRONG COLD FRONT WILL ALLOW FOR
THE POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF ORGANIZED SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS
CENTRAL INDIANA. DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...FREQUENT CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY RAIN WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREATS.
ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THE SEVERE THREAT WILL
DIMINISH TOWARDS DAYBREAK THURSDAY.

LOWLAND FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ALONG PORTIONS OF THE
WABASH RIVER.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO BE ONGOING THURSDAY MORNING BUT ARE
EXPECTED TO DIMINISH BEFORE NOON. SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED
THURSDAY MORNING.

ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY
NIGHT. AT THIS TIME THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
FOR CENTRAL INDIANA ON FRIDAY. LIGHTNING IS A THREAT WITH ANY
THUNDERSTORM.

LOWLAND FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ALONG PORTIONS OF THE WABASH RIVER.
LOWLAND FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF
BOTH THE EAST FORK WHITE AND THE WHITE RIVER.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TONIGHT. SPOTTERS ARE ALSO
ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY FLOODING ON ROADWAYS.

&&

MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND
CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/IND (ALL
LOWERCASE)

INZ060-061-067-068-142045-
SULLIVAN-GREENE-KNOX-DAVIESS-
440 PM EDT WED MAY 13 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL INDIANA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS CENTRAL
INDIANA ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM MUNCIE TO SEYMOUR. THE
GREATEST THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE IN WEST CENTRAL INDIANA
IN THE WABASH VALLEY.

THIS EVENING OCCASIONAL THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED. THE MAIN
THREATS FROM THESE STORMS WILL BE HEAVY RAIN...LARGE
HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. AREAL FLOODING
IS POSSIBLE.

AFTER MIDNIGHT...AN APPROACHING STRONG COLD FRONT WILL ALLOW FOR
THE POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF ORGANIZED SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS
CENTRAL INDIANA. DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...FREQUENT CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY RAIN WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREATS.
ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THE SEVERE THREAT WILL
DIMINISH TOWARDS DAYBREAK THURSDAY.

LOWLAND FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ALONG PORTIONS OF THE
WABASH RIVER.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO BE ONGOING THURSDAY MORNING BUT ARE
EXPECTED TO DIMINISH BEFORE NOON. SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED
THURSDAY MORNING.

ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY
NIGHT. AT THIS TIME THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
FOR CENTRAL INDIANA ON FRIDAY. LIGHTNING IS A THREAT WITH ANY
THUNDERSTORM.

LOWLAND FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ALONG PORTIONS OF THE WABASH RIVER.
LOWLAND FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF
BOTH THE EAST FORK WHITE AND THE WHITE RIVER.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED. SPOTTERS ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO
REPORT ANY FLOODING ON ROADWAYS.

&&

MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND
CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/IND (ALL
LOWERCASE)

CP

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 13, 3:50 PM EST, 3 hours 10 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
450 PM EDT WED MAY 13 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0400 PM     HEAVY RAIN       SHELBYVILLE             39.52N 85.78W
05/13/2009  M1.48 INCH       SHELBY             IN   ASOS

            1.48 INCHES OF RAIN SINCE MIDNIGHT EST AT KGEZ.

&&

NIELD

Local storm report, May 13, 3:51 PM EST, 3 hours 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
451 PM EDT WED MAY 13 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0400 PM     HEAVY RAIN       TERRE HAUTE             39.47N 87.38W
05/13/2009  M1.21 INCH       VIGO               IN   ASOS

            1.21 INCHES OF RAIN SINCE MIDNIGHT EST AT KHUF.

&&

NIELD

Local storm report, May 13, 3:53 PM EST, 3 hours 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
453 PM EDT WED MAY 13 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0430 PM     FLOOD            3 SSE UNIONVILLE        39.19N 86.39W
05/13/2009                   MONROE             IN   PUBLIC

            BRUMMETS CREEK ROAD IMPASSABLE DUE TO HIGH WATER.

&&

NIELD

Local storm report, May 13, 3:54 PM EST, 3 hours 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
454 PM EDT WED MAY 13 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0445 PM     FLOOD            NASHVILLE               39.20N 86.24W
05/13/2009                   BROWN              IN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            NUMEROUS ROADS FLOODED IN BROWN COUNTY.

&&

NIELD

Local storm report, May 13, 4:02 PM EST, 2 hours 58 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
502 PM EDT WED MAY 13 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0500 PM     HEAVY RAIN       LAFAYETTE               40.41N 86.87W
05/13/2009  M3.07 INCH       TIPPECANOE         IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            3.07 INCHES OF STORM TOTAL RAINFALL MEASURED NEAR 18TH
            AND KOSSUTH.

&&

NIELD

Local storm report, May 13, 6:54 PM EST, 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
754 PM EDT WED MAY 13 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0750 PM     TSTM WND GST     MOORESVILLE             39.62N 86.37W
05/13/2009  M68 MPH          MORGAN             IN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ONE OR MORE TRANSFORMERS DOWNED.

&&

NIELD

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

27 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Greene

When: May 13, 7:00 PM EST to May 20, 10:30 PM EST
Where: Greene County, 1.72 mi S of Pt Commerce to 0.91 mi SE of Pt Commerce
Cause: Heavy Rain
Crop damage: $7,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.095, -86.973

Significant flooding occurred along the White River in/near Elliston, Indiana. The river crested 7.4 feet above flood stage on May 17th at a reading of 25.4 feet. Flooding of this magnitude typically affects extensive agricultural land, the north end of the runway of Shawnee airfield, state/county/local roads, and water surrounds river cabins. Damage costs are grossly estimated.

Flood, Clay

When: May 13, 9:30 PM EST to May 16, 1:15 AM EST
Where: Clay County, 2.15 mi NNW of Bowling Green to 1.7 mi N of Bowling Green
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.410, -87.010

Extensive flooding of bottomlands occurred along the Eel River in and near Bowling Green, Indiana. The river crested 2.4 feet above flood stage on May 15th at a reading of 19.4 feet. Crop damage is grossly estimated.

Flood, Greene

When: May 13, 10:30 PM EST to May 20, 11:00 PM EST
Where: Greene County, 1.71 mi SSE of Ilene to 1.84 mi NNW of Slinkard
Cause: Heavy Rain
Crop damage: $7,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 38.909, -87.104

Extensive flooding of agricultural lands occurred along the White River in/near Newberry, Indiana. The river crested 7.3 feet above flood stage on May 17th at a reading of 20.3 feet. Some county and state roads are typically affected at this height....river cabins are surrounded by water. Damage costs are grossly estimated.

Flood, Knox

When: May 14, 1:00 AM EST to May 22, 1:30 PM EST
Where: Knox County, 2.33 mi ESE of Edwardsport to 3.88 mi SE of Bicknell
Cause: Heavy Rain
Crop damage: $5,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 38.804, -87.212

Extensive flooding of bottomlands occurred along the White River in/near Edwardsport, Indiana. The river crested 7.6 feet above flood stage on May 18th at a reading of 22.6 feet. Flooding of this magnitude typically affects local/county/state roads, agricultural land, and surrounds river cabins. Damage costs are grossly estimated.

Flood, Daviess

When: May 14, 1:00 AM EST to May 22, 1:30 PM EST
Where: Daviess County, 3.24 mi W of Plainville to 1.95 mi NW of Graham
Cause: Heavy Rain
Crop damage: $5,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 38.804, -87.210

Extensive flooding of bottomlands occurred along the White River approximately 5 miles west of Plainville, Indiana, in the vicinity of Edwardsport, Indiana of neighboring Knox County. The river crested 7.6 feet above flood stage on May 18th at a reading of 22.6 feet. Flooding of this magnitude typically affects local/county/state roads, agricultural land, and surrounds river cabins. Damage costs are grossly estimated.

Flood, Vermillion

When: May 14, 1:30 AM EST to May 24, 8:30 AM EST
Where: Vermillion County, 1.7 mi E of Newport to 0.34 mi E of Newport
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.882, -87.388

Extensive lowland flooding occurred along the Wabash River near Hillsdale, Indiana. The river crested 12.1 feet above flood stage on May 18th at a reading of 26.1 feet. Damage costs are grossly estimated.

Flood, Parke

When: May 14, 1:30 AM EST to May 24, 8:30 AM EST
Where: Parke County, 2.67 mi S of Waterman to 2.01 mi NNW of West Union
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.882, -87.388

Extensive lowland flooding occurred along the Wabash River in/near Montezuma, Indiana. The river crested 12.1 feet above flood stage on May 18th at a reading of 26.1 feet. Damage costs are grossly estimated.

Flood, Vigo

When: May 14, 2:30 AM EST to May 24, 11:45 PM EST
Where: Vigo County, 0.99 mi S of Shephardsville to 0.27 mi N of Sky King Arpt
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.586, -87.417

Flooding occurred along the Wabash River in/near Terre Haute, Indiana. The river crested 8.1 feet above flood stage on May 19th at a reading of 22.1 feet. At 22.0 feet water is at or near critical stages of many agricultural levees. Damage costs are grossly estimated.

Flood, Owen

When: May 14, 5:30 AM EST to May 19, 1:15 AM EST
Where: Owen County, 3.24 mi NE of Spencer to 2.6 mi WSW of Romona
Cause: Heavy Rain
Crop damage: $5,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.316, -86.731

Extensive flooding of agricultural lands occurred along the White River in/near Spencer, Indiana. The river crested 5.5 feet above flood stage on May 16th at a reading of 19.5 feet. Some local/county roads are typically affected at this height. Crop damage is grossly estimated.

Flood, Jackson

When: May 14, 7:30 AM EST to May 20, 12:30 AM EST
Where: Jackson County, 3.46 mi NW of Ewing to 0.78 mi NNW of Reddington
Cause: Heavy Rain
Crop damage: $12,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 38.915, -86.096

Extensive agricultural flooding occurred along the East Fork White River in/near Rockford, Indiana. The river crested 5.8 feet above flood stage on May 16th at a reading of 17.8 feet. For comparison, a river reading of 17.0 feet is fairly frequent and floods many local and state roads; and with a reading of 18.0 feet extensive flooding occurs with more than 50% of Jackson County underwater. Damage costs are grossly estimated.

Flood, Vermillion

When: May 14, 9:00 AM EST to May 23, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Vermillion County, 0.4 mi SSW of Alta to 1.04 mi ESE of Alta
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.765, -87.383

Extensive flooding occurred along the Wabash River in and near Clinton, Indiana. The river crested 7.3 feet above flood stage on May 19th at a reading of 25.3 feet. Damage costs are grossly estimated.

Flood, Parke

When: May 14, 9:00 AM EST to May 23, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Parke County, 2.54 mi SSW of Montezuma to 1.37 mi WSW of Brazil Jct
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.765, -87.383

Extensive flooding occurred along the Wabash River near Lyford, Indiana. The river crested 7.3 feet above flood stage on May 19th at a reading of 25.3 feet. Damage costs are grossly estimated.

Flood, Vigo

When: May 14, 9:00 AM EST to May 23, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Vigo County, 10.02 mi N of West Atherton to 2.82 mi N of West Atherton
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.765, -87.383

Extensive flooding occurred along the Wabash River near Shepardsville, Indiana. The river crested 7.3 feet above flood stage on May 19th at a reading of 25.3 feet. Damage costs are grossly estimated.

Flood, Morgan

When: May 14, 9:30 AM EST to May 15, 11:15 AM EST
Where: Morgan County, 0.55 mi WNW of Martinsville to 2.27 mi NNW of Martinsville Arpt
Cause: Heavy Rain
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.433, -86.439

Lowland flooding occurred along the White River in/near Centerton, Indiana. The river crested 2.4 feet above flood stage on May 14th at a reading of 14.4 feet. Damage costs are grossly estimated.

Flood, Shelby

When: May 14, 10:00 AM EST to May 15, 9:15 PM EST
Where: Shelby County, 1.93 mi SSW of Marion to 1.04 mi S of Marion
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.554, -85.762

Lowland flooding occurred along the Big Blue River in and near Shelbyville, Indiana. The river crested 1.6 feet above flood stage at the Shelbyville river gauge on May 15th at a reading of 12.6 feet. Crop damage estimate is grossly estimated.

Flood, Morgan

When: May 14, 10:00 AM EST to May 15, 8:15 PM EST
Where: Morgan County, 2.69 mi SSE of Beech Grove to 2.45 mi SSE of Beech Grove
Cause: Heavy Rain
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.482, -86.439

Flooding of bottomlands occurred along the White River in/near Centerton, Indiana. The river crested 1.9 feet above flood stage on May 14th at a reading of 604.9 feet. Crop damage is grossly estimated.

Flood, Knox

When: May 14, 10:45 AM EST to May 29, 5:30 AM EST
Where: Knox County, 4.75 mi W of Emison to 1.28 mi SW of Busseron
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $5,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 38.810, -87.537

Flooding occurred along the Wabash River in/near Vincennes, Indiana. The river crested 5.4 feet above flood stage on May 23rd at a reading of 21.4 feet. Damage costs are grossly estimated.

Flood, Tippecanoe

When: May 14, 11:00 AM EST to May 20, 4:00 PM EST
Where: Tippecanoe County, 2.03 mi ENE of Battle Ground to 1.67 mi WSW of Americus
Cause: Heavy Rain
Crop damage: $5,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 40.532, -86.795

Fairly extensive flooding of lowlands/agricultural lands occurred along the Wabash River in and near Lafayette, Indiana. The river crested 8.8 feet above flood stage on May 16th at a reading of 19.8 feet. Crop damage is grossly estimated.

Flood, Warren

When: May 14, 2:00 PM EST to May 22, 7:15 AM EST
Where: Warren County, 3.91 mi NE of Foster to 1.63 mi SSE of West Lebanon
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 40.193, -87.422

Flooding occurred along the Wabash River near Foster, Indiana. The river crested 8.1 feet above flood stage on May 18th at a reading of 24.1 feet. Damage costs are grossly estimated.

Flood, Fountain

When: May 14, 2:00 PM EST to May 22, 7:15 AM EST
Where: Fountain County, 3.45 mi NW of Covington to 0.95 mi NNW of Covington
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 40.165, -87.446

Flooding occurred along the Wabash River near Covington, Indiana. The river crested 8.1 feet above flood stage on May 18th at a reading of 24.1 feet. Damage costs are grossly estimated.

Flood, Vermillion

When: May 14, 2:00 PM EST to May 22, 7:15 AM EST
Where: Vermillion County, 6.31 mi NE of Rileysburg to 5.59 mi NE of Rileysburg
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 40.165, -87.446

Flooding occurred along the Wabash River north-northeast of Perrysville, Indiana, in the proximity of Covington, Indiana of neighboring Fountain County. The river crested 8.1 feet above flood stage on May 18th at a reading of 24.1 feet. Damage costs are grossly estimated.

Flood, Knox

When: May 14, 5:00 PM EST to May 25, 3:45 AM EST
Where: Knox County, 5.05 mi ENE of Willis to 5.33 mi SE of Wheatland
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $2,000
Crop damage: $5,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 38.586, -87.259

Extensive flooding occurred along the White River near Willis, Indiana. The river crested 7.8 feet above flood stage on May 19th at a reading of 23.8 feet at the Petersburg, Indiana river gauge. Flooding of this magnitude typically affects local/county/state roads, agricultural land, rural residental areas, and surrounds river cabins. Damage costs are grossly estimated.

Flood, Daviess

When: May 14, 5:00 PM EST to May 25, 3:45 AM EST
Where: Daviess County, 1.83 mi WSW of Thomas to 2.6 mi S of Thomas
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Crop damage: $3,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 38.586, -87.259

Extensive flooding occurred along the White River near Sandy Hook, Indiana of Daviess County, or Petersburg of Pike County. The river crested 7.8 feet above flood stage on May 19th at a reading of 23.8 feet at the Petersburg, Indiana river gauge. Flooding of this magnitude typically affects local/county/state roads, agricultural land, rural residental areas, and surrounds river cabins. Damage costs are grossly estimated.

Flood, Knox

When: May 15, 4:30 AM EST to May 29, 6:30 PM EST
Where: Knox County, 3.6 mi WNW of Orrville to 4.73 mi NNW of Orrville
Cause: Heavy Rain
Crop damage: $5,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 38.484, -87.744

Extensive lowland flooding occurred along the Wabash River about 4 miles southwest of Orrville, Indiana, around the Mount Carmel, Illinois area. The river crested 7.8 feet above flood stage on May 22nd at a reading of 26.8 feet. At 26.7 feet extensive agricultural flooding typically occurs in areas that are not protected by levees. Damage costs are grossly estimated.

Flood, Bartholomew

When: May 15, 10:00 AM EST to May 17, 2:00 AM EST
Where: Bartholomew County, 2 mi E of Taylorsville to 0.94 mi NW of Clifford
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 39.298, -85.913

Lowland flooding occurred along the East Fork White River in and near Columbus, Indiana. The river crested half a foot above flood stage at the Columbus river gauge on May 16th at a reading of 9.5 feet.

Flood, Lawrence

When: May 16, 2:45 PM EST to May 22, 3:45 AM EST
Where: Lawrence County, 1.16 mi WSW of River Vale to 0.45 mi NW of River Vale
Cause: Heavy Rain
Crop damage: $7,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 38.764, -86.420

Flooding occurred along the East Fork White River in/near Rivervale, Indiana. The river crested 6.5 feet above flood stage at the Rivervale river gauge on May 19th at a reading of 26.5 feet. At 25 feet typical flooding includes all county roads across or located in the East Fork of White River flood plain flood, and flooding of agricultural land becomes extensive. Crop damage estimate is grossly estimated.

Flood, Lawrence

When: May 17, 8:00 PM EST to May 21, 4:15 PM EST
Where: Lawrence County, 0.73 mi WNW of Williams to 1.32 mi W of Williams
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 38.805, -86.642

Flooding of bottomlands occurred along the East Fork White River in and near Williams, Indiana. The river crested 1.3 feet above flood stage on May 19th at a reading of 9.3 feet. Crop damage is grossly estimated.

What these are

Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Indiana in 2009 Every state in 2009 This day in weather history Warnings in Indiana, May 2009

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: 176288, 175723, 176289, 176290, 176291, 175813, 175818, 175856, 176231, 193012, 175824, 175837, 175843, 176159, 175452, 176203, 175880, 175771, 175778, 175789, 175796, 176328, 176329, 175932, 175484, 175637, 175721.