Indiana Flooded: Rare 'Catastrophic' Warnings Issued

Central Indiana experienced a historic deluge as storms on August 12, 2026, dropped more than 11 inches of rain in certain locations. This led to a record number of flash flood warnings from the National Weather Service in Indianapolis. The NWS utilizes a three-tiered warning system: base, considerable, and catastrophic. Prior to this event, only ten 'considerable' warnings had been issued since 2019.

In a single day, fourteen 'considerable' warnings and three 'catastrophic' warnings were issued. Catastrophic warnings are reserved for situations requiring evacuations and where emergency crews perform water rescues. These extreme conditions resulted from a stalled atmospheric boundary interacting with moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.

While this weather pattern is typical for the season, the sheer volume of rainfall—over 11 inches in New Castle and more than 8 inches in Anderson and Muncie—is uncommon for the region. Residents are urged to heed the 'turn around, don't drown' mantra, as flooded roadways can conceal washed-out sections.

The forecast indicates that severe weather, including thunderstorms and further rain, will continue through Saturday, August 16, 2026. There is a moderate risk for excessive rainfall and flash flooding. Additionally, the NOAA Weather Radio transmitter KJY-93 in Muncie is offline due to flooding at its site.