Clinton County, Indiana
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 18023 · population 33,183 · 405 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 376 records for Clinton County, Indiana from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 278 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (170 records). The deadliest single record is the June 3, 1990 thunderstorm wind: 2 deaths and 2 injuries. FEMA has issued 16 declarations naming the county since 1965, 14 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding” on August 15, 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
- 376on 278 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 454 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $69Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 19strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 16latest 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 Clinton County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 170 since 1962. 44% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1962 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.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 170 | 121 | 1962-2026 | 2 | 9 | $5.3M | 48 of 91 |
| Hail | 68 | 50 | 1971-2024 | 0 | 0 | $26M | 48 of 91 |
| Winter storms | 44 | 44 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $12K | 58 of 91 |
| Floods | 39 | 33 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $2.0M | 60 of 91 |
| Tornadoes | 19 | 16 | 1953-2023 | 1 | 45 | $36M | 70 of 91 |
| Drought | 14 | 14 | 2012-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 13 of 91 |
| Extreme cold | 8 | 8 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 21 of 91 |
| High wind and dust storms | 8 | 8 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $23K | 68 of 91 |
| Heat | 3 | 3 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 29 of 91 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 1996-2005 | 0 | 0 | $5K | 53 of 91 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 1996-1996 | 0 | 0 | – | 57 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 Clinton County had?
NOAA records 19 tornadoes in Clinton County from 1953 to 2023, the strongest rated F4, with 1 death and 45 injuries recorded in the county. 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 19 tornadoes whose track touched Clinton County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 19, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 28 people, 1 of them in Clinton County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965-04-11 18:20, as SPC files it | Kokomo | F4 | 48 mi | 25 |
| 1953-04-09 17:15, as SPC files it | Frankfort to EatonCrossed IL, IN | F3 | 156.7 mi | 3 |
| 1965-04-11 18:07, as SPC files it | Mulberry | F4 | 21.8 mi | 0 |
| 2013-11-17 13:54, as SPC files it | Lafayette | EF3 | 37.91 mi | 0 |
| 1978-06-25 17:00, as SPC files it | Lafayette | F3 | 27.4 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Indiana.
Every tornado record filed for Clinton County (19)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-03-31 | Colfax, Clinton County | EF2 7.32 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $678K |
| 2017-05-20 | Forest, Clinton County | EF1 1.45 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $48K |
| 2013-11-17 | Edna, Clinton County | EF0 3.4 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2013-11-17 | Michigantown, Clinton County | EF2 7 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $76K |
| 2005-07-26 | Michigantown, Clinton County | F0 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $264K |
| 2005-07-26 | Frankfort, Clinton County | F1 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $378K |
| 2004-04-20 | Frankfort, Clinton County | F1 3.8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $391K |
| 1990-06-02 | Clinton County | F1 6 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1987-06-02 | Clinton County | F0 2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1978-06-25 | Clinton County | F3 9.4 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1975-04-02 | Clinton County | F2 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1968-06-11 | Clinton County | F2 | 0 | 5 | $250K step |
| 1968-05-15 | Clinton County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1965-04-11 | Clinton County | F4 3.8 mi x 333 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1965-04-11 | Clinton County | F4 15.9 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 34 | – |
| 1961-08-10 | Clinton County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1961-03-06 | Clinton County | F2 2.7 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1954-03-19 | Clinton County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1953-04-09 | Clinton County | F3 23.6 mi x 750 yd | 1 | 6 | $2.5M 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 Clinton County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 11, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($10,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-29 | Excessive HeatClinton County · forecast zone Clinton | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindCyclone, Clinton County | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindKirklin, Clinton County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindFrankfort, Clinton County | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindFrankfort, Clinton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-04-27 | Thunderstorm WindMichigantown, Clinton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-04-27 | Thunderstorm WindClinton Co Airport, Clinton County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindSedalia, Clinton County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-03-26 | Thunderstorm WindBoyleston, Clinton County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| 2026-03-26 | Thunderstorm WindFrankfort, Clinton County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-03-26 | Thunderstorm WindClinton Co Airport, Clinton County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtClinton County · forecast zone Clinton | 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
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990-06-03 | Thunderstorm WindClinton County | 2 | 2 | – | |
| 1953-04-09 | TornadoClinton County | F3 23.6 mi x 750 yd | 1 | 6 | $2.5M step |
| 2015-02-04 | Winter WeatherClinton County · forecast zone Clinton Just north of Clinton County Road 200 North, a 79-year-old Rossville man and his truck left the east side of the road, traveled down the berm, and entered the creek. The man made it out of the truck, but was unable to get to the bank. He had left home about 2 p.m. on February 4th to run to a store in Frankfort. ... | 1 | 0 | $12K | |
| 1965-04-11 | TornadoClinton County | F4 15.9 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 34 | – |
| 1996-07-17 | Thunderstorm WindFrankfort, Clinton County Very strong thunderstorm winds associated with a rapidly developing thunderstorm complex caused extensive damage in the Frankfort area. Heavy damage occurred at the Clinton county fairgrounds where a large tree fell on a tent. Six injuries were reported...mainly cuts and abrasions. Several rides and buildings at the ... | 0 | 6 | $3.8M | |
| 1968-06-11 | TornadoClinton County | F2 | 0 | 5 | $250K step |
| 2017-11-18 | Thunderstorm WindFrankfort, Clinton County Part of the Walmart's roof collapsed and the front of the store was damaged due to damaging straight-line thunderstorm winds. Two semi truck was knocked over as well. One man inside an overturned truck was taken to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries. A church's steeple was bent by the severe wind. Multiple ... | 74 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $247K |
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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-07-17 | Thunderstorm WindFrankfort, Clinton County | 0 | 6 | $3.8M | |
| 2003-07-05 | Flash FloodFrankfort, Clinton County | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 2023-03-31 | TornadoColfax, Clinton County | EF2 7.32 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $678K |
| 2004-04-20 | TornadoFrankfort, Clinton County | F1 3.8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $391K |
| 2005-07-26 | TornadoFrankfort, Clinton County | F1 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $378K |
| 2005-07-26 | TornadoMichigantown, Clinton County | F0 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $264K |
| 2026-03-26 | Thunderstorm WindBoyleston, Clinton County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| 2017-11-18 | Thunderstorm WindFrankfort, Clinton County | 74 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $247K |
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 $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 9, 1953 (tornado, Clinton County, 1 killed).
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 Clinton 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).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 4 | 6 | 19 | 23 | 50 | 39 | 29 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 27 | 19 | 8 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 8 | 15 | 13 | 8 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 8 | 19 | 10 | 2 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
44% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1962 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 32 · Feb 19 · Mar 37 · Apr 34 · May 49 · Jun 77 · Jul 46 · Aug 20 · Sep 15 · Oct 10 · Nov 19 · Dec 18 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Clinton County
FEMA's register lists 16 declarations that include Clinton County: 10 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (5) and flood (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-15 | EM-3651 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3641 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2023-04-15 | DR-4704 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2020-04-03 | DR-4515 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3456 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2014-04-22 | DR-4173 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2007-03-12 | EM-3274 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3238 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-01-21 | DR-1573 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| 2004-06-03 | DR-1520 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2003-07-11 | DR-1476 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 1999-01-15 | EM-3135 | Snowstorm | In-Winter Storm 12/23/98 |
| 1996-04-02 | DR-1109 | Flood | Blizzard of 96 |
| 1991-03-29 | DR-899 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Ice Storm |
| 1991-01-05 | DR-891 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1965-04-14 | DR-189 | Tornado | Tornadoes & Severe Storms |
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 Clinton County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 39 flood or flash flood records for Clinton County from 1996 to 2022, on 33 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Clinton County ranks 1976th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $372,000 on 26 claims filed in Clinton County; the most in one year was 6 in 2004. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1981: 1 · 1983: 2 · 1989: 1 · 1997: 1 · 2003: 2 · 2004: 6 · 2006: 1 · 2009: 1 · 2010: 4 · 2013: 5 · 2014: 1 · 2026: 1; 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 Clinton County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Clinton County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $11.0 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.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $718K | 4.3 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $1.0M | 5 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $436K | 1.3 modeled event-days a year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $103K | 9.8 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $499K | once in about 545 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.4M | 3.7 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.7M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $396K | 4.4 modeled event-days a year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Clinton County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in IndianaEvery Indiana tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in IndianaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Indiana recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Clinton CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Clinton County's FEMA declarations (CSV)16 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis