Clark County, Indiana

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 18019 · population 120,950 · 372 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 535 records for Clark County, Indiana from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 323 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (221 records). The deadliest single record is the September 14, 2008 high wind, filed for the forecast zone Clark, which covers the county: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 20 declarations naming the county since 1974, 18 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on January 24, 2026.

The record, 1950 to 2026

Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).

  • recorded, no damage figure
  • under $100,000
  • $100,000 or more
  • $1 million or more
  • $10 million or more, or a death
  • $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
  • a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
  • a year with a death
  • 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
  • 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
Storm records
535on 323 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
848 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$1.6Bas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
30strongest F5
FEMA declarations
20latest 2026

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.

What hazards hit Clark County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 221 since 1955. 43% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1955 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among Indiana's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.

Clark County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 221 147 1955-2026 0 8 $1.1M 19 of 91
Hail 121 76 1968-2025 0 0 $78K 8 of 91
Floods 100 70 1996-2026 2 0 $37M 26 of 91
Winter storms 39 37 1996-2026 1 3 $27K 62 of 91
Tornadoes 30 25 1959-2026 3 37 $1.6B 9 of 91
Heavy rain 9 7 2009-2019 0 0 – 7 of 91
High wind and dust storms 8 8 1996-2024 2 0 $61K 64 of 91
Extreme cold 5 5 2016-2025 0 0 – 52 of 91
Heat 1 1 2012-2012 0 0 – 59 of 91
Lightning 1 1 2020-2020 0 0 $34K 67 of 91

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.

How many tornadoes has Clark County had?

NOAA records 30 tornadoes in Clark County from 1959 to 2026, the strongest rated F5, with 3 deaths and 37 injuries recorded in the county. That is 9th of 91 Indiana counties and 221st of 3,080 U.S. counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.

Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 27 tornadoes whose track touched Clark County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 30: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 23 people, 3 of them in Clark County.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Clark County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
2012-03-02 13:50, as SPC files itNew PekinCrossed IN, KYEF446.6 mi11
1974-04-03 14:19, as SPC files itHenryvilleF435.6 mi11
2008-01-29 18:58, as SPC files itHenryvilleEF10.18 mi1
2007-10-18 20:03, as SPC files itUnnamedEF34.8 mi0
1990-06-02 21:40, as SPC files itNew WashingtonCrossed IN, KYF317 mi0
1990-06-02 20:57, as SPC files itSellersburgF312 mi0

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Indiana.

Every tornado record filed for Clark County (30)
Every tornado recorded in Clark County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-26 Memphis, Clark County EF0 0.32 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2026-06-21 Memphis, Clark County EF1 3.05 mi x 150 yd 0 0 –
2024-09-24 Cementville, Clark County EF0 3.88 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
2024-05-07 Bennettsville, Clark County EF0 1.19 mi x 60 yd 0 0 –
2024-04-02 Watson, Clark County EF1 4.16 mi x 250 yd 0 10 –
2024-02-10 Underwood, Clark County EF1 1.03 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
2017-03-01 Borden, Clark County EF1 0.33 mi x 20 yd 0 0 $241K
2012-03-02 Blue Lick, Clark County EF4 16.71 mi x 700 yd 1 0 $71M
2012-03-02 Blue Lick, Clark County EF1 6.57 mi x 60 yd 0 0 $386K
2012-01-17 Jeffersonville Airport, Clark County EF0 1.85 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $26K
2011-04-19 Jeffersonville Airport, Clark County EF0 0.17 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
2011-04-19 Jeffersonville Airport, Clark County EF1 1.18 mi x 200 yd 0 0 –
2011-02-28 Watson, Clark County EF0 2.12 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $7K
2009-09-20 Borden, Clark County EF1 1.14 mi x 35 yd 0 0 $14K
2008-01-29 Henryville, Clark County EF1 0.18 mi x 100 yd 1 0 $69K
2007-10-18 Vesta, Clark County EF3 4.8 mi x 440 yd 0 0 $1.4M
2004-05-30 Clarksville, Clark County F1 2 mi x 10 yd 0 0 $781K
2004-05-27 Borden, Clark County F2 17.9 mi x 75 yd 0 0 $1.6M
1990-06-02 Clark County F3 3.7 mi x 300 yd 0 0 $2.5M step
1990-06-02 Clark County F3 7.2 mi x 440 yd 0 4 $250K step
1974-04-03 Clark County F4 5.4 mi x 1,200 yd 0 0 $250M step
1974-04-03 Clark County F5 17 mi x 33 yd 1 23 –
1973-06-27 Clark County F1 15.2 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $250K step
1973-06-16 Clark County F1 0.1 mi x 20 yd 0 0 $25K step
1972-04-13 Clark County F1 0.1 mi x 20 yd 0 0 $25K step
1970-09-03 Clark County F1 5.1 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $25K step
1961-07-23 Clark County F2 0 0 $25K step
1961-07-23 Clark County F1 0 0 $3K step
1961-03-06 Clark County 0 0 $3K step
1959-02-10 Clark County F2 0 0 $25K step

A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.

When was the last damaging storm in Clark County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 15, 2025 thunderstorm wind (4 injuries).

Multiple temporary buildings were knocked over at a construction site on River Ridge Road.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1246404)
The 12 most recent records kept for Clark County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-26 TornadoMemphis, Clark County EF0 0.32 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2026-06-26 Flash FloodHenryville, Clark County 0 0 –
2026-06-21 Thunderstorm WindOtisco, Clark County 50 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-21 TornadoMemphis, Clark County EF1 3.05 mi x 150 yd 0 0 –
2026-06-21 Flash FloodMemphis, Clark County 0 0 –
2026-05-19 Thunderstorm WindJeffersonville Airport, Clark County 50 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-05-18 Thunderstorm WindUnderwood, Clark County 50 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-05-16 Thunderstorm WindCharlestown, Clark County 50 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-04-27 Thunderstorm WindCementville, Clark County 53 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-04-27 Thunderstorm WindWatson, Clark County 53 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-04-27 Thunderstorm WindUtica, Clark County 53 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-04-27 Thunderstorm WindBonnenburger, Clark County 53 kt wind 0 0 –

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.

The deadliest and costliest records

Records with deaths or injuries in Clark County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2008-09-14 High WindClark County · forecast zone Clark Two deaths occurred in the county. One fatality occurred when a tree limb hit a man in his home in Charlestown. Another fatality occurred in Memphis when a falling tree struck a woman. Numerous trees and power lines were downed across the county. Roofing shingles and gutters were also observed blowing around. ... 56 kt wind 2 0 –
1974-04-03 TornadoClark County F5 17 mi x 33 yd 1 23 –
2010-12-20 Winter WeatherClark County · forecast zone Clark Slick roads from light sleet and freezing rain earlier in the day lead to a traffic fatality on Indiana State Highway 62 near Jeffersonville, Indiana. The driver lost control of her vehicle, which crossed the median and collided with another vehicle. Two people in the other vehicle received injuries. 1 3 $27K
2015-07-14 FloodCharlestown, Clark County The Clark County emergency manager along with several media outlets reported the drowning of a 67 year old male after he reportedly drove through a flooded roadway. Several inches of rain had fallen during the previous night, flooding a portion of Tunnel Mill Road. His vehicle was found several hours later and a ... 1 0 $25K
2012-03-02 TornadoBlue Lick, Clark County This is a continuation of the violent long tracked tornado that began just south of Fredricksburg moved into Clark county as an EF-4 with a path width of one-third of a mile. On Dan Gray Road, many well-constructed homes were leveled. The tornado narrowed to a path width of one-quarter of a mile and decreased in ... EF4 16.71 mi x 700 yd 1 0 $71M
2008-01-29 TornadoHenryville, Clark County A small EF1 tornado touched down briefly just northeast of Henryville. The tornado's 90mph winds felled trees in varying directions, one of which crashed onto a mobile home killing the occupant. EF1 0.18 mi x 100 yd 1 0 $69K
1997-03-01 Flash FloodCountywide, Clark County Over 2 inches of rain fell on top of 4 to 8 inch totals in 24 hours causing widespread flash flooding with many roads water covered and closed. A 16 month old boy drowned as the car he was in filled with water as it stalled under a viaduct. 1 0 –
2024-04-02 TornadoWatson, Clark County The National Weather Service in Louisville surveyed storm damage in southeast Clark County IN, through far northeast Jefferson KY, and into western Oldham County. Specifically the tornado traveled just southeast of the Clark County Indiana Airport, east through Utica, crossing the Ohio River into Prospect, and lifting ... EF1 4.16 mi x 250 yd 0 10 –
The costliest records in Clark County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2012-03-02 TornadoBlue Lick, Clark County EF4 16.71 mi x 700 yd 1 0 $71M
2004-05-27 TornadoBorden, Clark County F2 17.9 mi x 75 yd 0 0 $1.6M
2007-10-18 TornadoVesta, Clark County EF3 4.8 mi x 440 yd 0 0 $1.4M
2004-05-30 TornadoClarksville, Clark County F1 2 mi x 10 yd 0 0 $781K
2012-03-02 TornadoBlue Lick, Clark County EF1 6.57 mi x 60 yd 0 0 $386K
2017-03-01 TornadoBorden, Clark County EF1 0.33 mi x 20 yd 0 0 $241K
2017-03-01 Thunderstorm WindBorden, Clark County 69 kt wind 0 0 $181K
2008-02-06 Thunderstorm WindNew Washington, Clark County 70 kt wind 0 0 $137K

Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $250M, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 3, 1974 (tornado, Clark County).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.

Is it getting more frequent?

Records per decade for Clark County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).

Clark County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind1021127595764
Hail012811344619
Floods––––8383816
Winter storms––––3623 z7
Tornadoes13602576

Winter storms in the 2010s: 23 records against 6 in the decade before, 23 of them forecast-zone records. Cells marked z rose mostly through zone records. The local National Weather Service office files these once per forecast zone, so a change in how it draws its zones or splits a storm into records moves this count as much as the weather does; read it beside the Clark County days with a record above.

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).

What time of year?

43% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1955 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 30 · Feb 36 · Mar 58 · Apr 67 · May 70 · Jun 78 · Jul 84 · Aug 40 · Sep 29 · Oct 13 · Nov 12 · Dec 18 (records).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.

Federal disaster declarations for Clark County

FEMA's register lists 20 declarations that include Clark County: 16 major disasters, 4 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (9) and flood (5).

Declarations including Clark County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2026-01-24EM-3641Winter StormSevere Winter Storm
2025-07-22DR-4882FloodSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2020-04-03DR-4515BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3456BiologicalCovid-19
2018-05-04DR-4363FloodSevere Storms and Flooding
2012-03-09DR-4058Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes
2011-06-23DR-1997Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and
2009-03-05DR-1828Severe StormSevere Winter Storm
2008-09-23DR-1795Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
2005-09-10EM-3238HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2005-01-21DR-1573Severe StormSevere Winter Storms and Flooding
2005-01-11EM-3197SnowstormSnow
2004-09-01DR-1542Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding
2004-06-03DR-1520Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
1997-03-06DR-1165Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
1996-04-02DR-1109FloodBlizzard of 96
1992-08-17DR-953FloodSevere Storms & Flash Flooding
1991-01-05DR-891FloodSevere Storms & Flooding
1990-06-04DR-869Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding
1974-04-04DR-423TornadoTornadoes

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.

How many floods has Clark County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 100 flood or flash flood records for Clark County from 1996 to 2026, on 70 days, with 2 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Clark County ranks 359th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $17.5 million on 860 claims filed in Clark County; the most in one year was 213 in 1997. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1978: 56 · 1979: 18 · 1980: 5 · 1981: 2 · 1982: 4 · 1983: 14 · 1984: 2 · 1985: 1 · 1988: 2 · 1989: 10 · 1990: 9 · 1991: 15 · 1992: 9 · 1993: 1 · 1994: 3 · 1995: 7 · 1996: 34 · 1997: 213 · 1998: 1 · 2000: 10 · 2001: 11 · 2002: 3 · 2004: 6 · 2005: 14 · 2006: 19 · 2008: 4 · 2009: 36 · 2010: 2 · 2011: 73 · 2012: 3 · 2013: 2 · 2014: 4 · 2015: 59 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 4 · 2018: 104 · 2019: 5 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2025: 86; the other years: 0.

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.

FEMA's modeled risk for Clark County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Clark County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $54.4 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.

National Risk Index ratings for Clark County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
Strong WindRelatively High$5.0M5.8 a year (modeled)
TornadoRelatively High$15Monce in about 4 years (modeled)
Riverine FloodingRelatively Moderate$25M2.3 a year (modeled)
Cold WaveRelatively Moderate$4.0M1.4 a year (modeled)
LightningRelatively Moderate$819K51 a year (modeled)
Ice StormRelatively Moderate$359Kabout once a year (modeled)
EarthquakeRelatively Low$3.1Monce in about 403 years (modeled)
LandslideRelatively Low$29Konce in about 3 years (modeled)

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.

Counties that share a border with Clark County

  1. Jefferson County, KY 1,264
  2. Clark County 535
  3. Oldham County, KY 383
  4. Washington County 368
  5. Jefferson County 350
  6. Floyd County 337
  7. Scott County 196
  8. Trimble County, KY 196

Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.

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