Kosciusko County, Indiana

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 18085 · population 80,193 · 531 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 662 records for Kosciusko County, Indiana from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 387 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (353 records). The deadliest single record is the April 3, 1974 tornado: 1 death and 39 injuries. FEMA has issued 18 declarations naming the county since 1974, 16 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
662on 387 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
484 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$30Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
36strongest F4
FEMA declarations
18latest 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 Kosciusko County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 353 since 1958. 50% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1958 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.

Kosciusko County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 353 182 1958-2026 1 13 $12M 31 of 91
Winter storms 111 104 1997-2026 1 0 $36K 32 of 91
Hail 105 67 1962-2026 0 0 $6K 45 of 91
Tornadoes 36 31 1956-2026 1 66 $16M 23 of 91
High wind and dust storms 16 16 1996-2026 0 1 $58K 40 of 91
Floods 15 15 2000-2025 0 0 $770K 81 of 91
Lightning 12 10 1998-2022 0 4 $1.2M 13 of 91
Extreme cold 9 7 1996-2024 1 0 – 56 of 91
Heavy rain 3 2 2005-2015 0 0 – 37 of 91
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 2 2 2005-2005 0 0 – 35 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 Kosciusko County had?

NOAA records 36 tornadoes in Kosciusko County from 1956 to 2026, the strongest rated F4, with 1 death and 66 injuries recorded in the county. That is 23rd of 91 Indiana 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 36 tornadoes whose track touched Kosciusko County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 36, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people, 1 of them in Kosciusko County.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Kosciusko County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
2007-10-18 20:05, as SPC files itNappaneeEF320.33 mi0
1961-07-23 13:00, as SPC files itNorth WebsterF30.1 mi0
1956-08-12 23:30, as SPC files itArgos to MentoneF323.4 mi0
1956-04-03 19:04, as SPC files itUnnamedF31.5 mi0

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Indiana.

Every tornado record filed for Kosciusko County (36)
Every tornado recorded in Kosciusko County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-11 Etna Green, Kosciusko County EF1 2.1 mi x 300 yd 0 0 –
2025-04-02 Etna Green, Kosciusko County EF1 1.51 mi x 175 yd 0 0 $10K
2020-08-10 Burket, Kosciusko County EF0 0.23 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2020-08-10 North Webster, Kosciusko County EF1 3.1 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
2018-08-06 Warsaw, Kosciusko County EF1 4.04 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2016-08-20 Hastings, Kosciusko County EF0 1.6 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
2014-07-01 Silver Lake, Kosciusko County EF0 2.52 mi x 150 yd 0 0 –
2014-07-01 Gravelton, Kosciusko County EF0 1.79 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2014-07-01 Palestine, Kosciusko County EF1 0.55 mi x 150 yd 0 0 –
2013-11-17 Burket, Kosciusko County EF1 1.05 mi x 250 yd 0 0 –
2013-11-17 Oswego, Kosciusko County EF1 1.65 mi x 275 yd 0 0 –
2013-11-17 Silver Lake, Kosciusko County EF2 3.47 mi x 150 yd 0 0 –
2010-10-26 Warsaw Airport, Kosciusko County EF0 0.93 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
2010-06-23 Monoquet, Kosciusko County EF1 4.79 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $406K
2007-10-18 Nappanee, Kosciusko County EF2 4.82 mi x 880 yd 0 0 $4.3M
2005-07-06 Atwood, Kosciusko County F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
2003-05-09 Pierceton, Kosciusko County F1 100 mi x 25 yd 0 0 $8K
2001-10-24 Mentone, Kosciusko County F1 17 mi x 150 yd 0 14 $4.2M
2000-06-14 Sidney, Kosciusko County F2 1 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $360K
1998-06-11 Etna Green, Kosciusko County F1 2 mi x 100 yd 0 4 $1.4M
1996-04-19 Milford, Kosciusko County F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
1992-09-09 Kosciusko County F0 0.1 mi x 3 yd 0 0 –
1992-08-03 Kosciusko County F0 0.1 mi x 3 yd 0 0 $3K step
1991-06-15 Kosciusko County F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
1980-06-02 Kosciusko County F1 0 1 $25K step
1977-05-29 Kosciusko County F0 0.2 mi x 33 yd 0 0 –
1974-04-03 Kosciusko County F4 25.4 mi x 33 yd 1 39 –
1969-08-09 Kosciusko County 0 0 –
1967-10-24 Kosciusko County F2 0 5 $250K step
1965-09-14 Kosciusko County F1 0 0 $3K step
1965-06-28 Kosciusko County F1 0 0 $250 step
1964-04-28 Kosciusko County F2 1.1 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $250 step
1961-07-23 Kosciusko County F3 0 3 $25K step
1957-06-14 Kosciusko County F2 0 0 $25K step
1956-08-12 Kosciusko County F3 12.3 mi x 800 yd 0 0 $250K step
1956-04-03 Kosciusko County F3 1.5 mi x 70 yd 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 Kosciusko County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 11, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($10,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

The 12 most recent records kept for Kosciusko County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-11 Thunderstorm WindHastings, Kosciusko County 55 kt wind 0 0 $10K
2026-06-11 Thunderstorm WindNorth Webster, Kosciusko County 65 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-11 TornadoEtna Green, Kosciusko County EF1 2.1 mi x 300 yd 0 0 –
2026-06-10 Thunderstorm WindWarsaw Airport, Kosciusko County 53 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-05-18 Thunderstorm WindMentone, Kosciusko County 52 kt wind 0 0 $10K
2026-04-27 Strong WindKosciusko County · forecast zone Northern Kosciusko County 43 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2026-04-22 HailSevastopol, Kosciusko County 1.00 in hail 0 0 $1K
2026-04-15 HailWarsaw, Kosciusko County 1.00 in hail 0 0 $1K
2026-04-15 HailClaypool, Kosciusko County 1.25 in hail 0 0 $1K
2026-04-15 HailClaypool, Kosciusko County 2.00 in hail 0 0 $1K
2026-04-02 Thunderstorm WindMentone, Kosciusko County 55 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-03-13 High WindKosciusko County · forecast zone Northern Kosciusko County 52 kt wind 0 1 $18K

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 Kosciusko County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1974-04-03 TornadoKosciusko County F4 25.4 mi x 33 yd 1 39 –
2014-07-01 Thunderstorm WindWarsaw, Kosciusko County Emergency management officials reported a large, rotten tree fell onto the bedroom of a mobile home in the Fairlane Mobile Home Park. Two adults and two children were inside the home at the time. One child escaped the impacted room, but a 14 year old male did not and was subsequently killed. 60 kt wind 1 0 –
2011-02-10 Cold/Wind ChillKosciusko County · forecast zone Kosciusko A 97 year old Syracuse woman was found dead after apparently falling on ice outside her residence during the overnight hours of the 10th. Temperatures had fallen into the teens below zero across the county. A combination of the head injury and cold weather caused her death. The time is estimated based on local reports. 1 0 –
2008-03-04 Winter StormKosciusko County · forecast zone Kosciusko Spotters reported three to six inches of snow, along with up to a quarter inch of sleet, causing slippery conditions. A 78 year old woman was killed in a car accident when her vehicle collided with a SUV on slippery roads. The woman's vehicle than impacted a tree. 1 0 –
2001-10-24 TornadoMentone, Kosciusko County F1 17 mi x 150 yd 0 14 $4.2M
1988-07-14 Thunderstorm WindKosciusko County 0 6 –
1967-10-24 TornadoKosciusko County F2 0 5 $250K step
2007-06-22 LightningWinona Lake, Kosciusko County Four teenagers were camping at a music festival at a local college and sought shelter under a tree, which was struck by lightning. The teeneages were indirectly injured from the strike. They ranged in age from 14 to 19. Two were admitted to a local hospital in fair conditions, with the other two being treated and ... 0 4 –

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.

The costliest records in Kosciusko County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2009-05-14 Thunderstorm WindMentone, Kosciusko County 55 kt wind 0 0 $6.9M
2007-10-18 TornadoNappanee, Kosciusko County EF2 4.82 mi x 880 yd 0 0 $4.3M
2001-10-24 TornadoMentone, Kosciusko County F1 17 mi x 150 yd 0 14 $4.2M
1998-07-21 Thunderstorm WindWarsaw, Kosciusko County 0 0 $905K
2011-07-22 Thunderstorm WindWinona Lake, Kosciusko County 78 kt wind 0 0 $656K
2024-09-20 Thunderstorm WindWarsaw Airport, Kosciusko County 70 kt wind 0 0 $470K
1998-06-12 Thunderstorm WindMentone, Kosciusko County 0 0 $453K
1998-07-21 LightningPackerton, Kosciusko County 0 0 $453K

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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: October 24, 1967 (tornado, Kosciusko County); August 12, 1956 (tornado, Kosciusko 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 Kosciusko 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).

Kosciusko County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind32922377812379
Winter storms––––3245529
Hail0121110452511
Tornadoes362155104
High wind and dust storms––––1744
Floods––––0681

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

What time of year?

50% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1958 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 49 · Feb 39 · Mar 38 · Apr 40 · May 82 · Jun 112 · Jul 131 · Aug 73 · Sep 26 · Oct 15 · Nov 28 · Dec 29 (records).

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

Federal disaster declarations for Kosciusko County

FEMA's register lists 18 declarations that include Kosciusko County: 10 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (6) and snowstorm (4).

Declarations including Kosciusko County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2026-08-15EM-3651FloodSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2026-01-24EM-3641Winter StormSevere Winter Storm
2020-04-03DR-4515BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3456BiologicalCovid-19
2018-05-04DR-4363FloodSevere Storms and Flooding
2014-04-22DR-4173Severe StormSevere Winter Storm and Snowstorm
2009-04-22DR-1832Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2008-01-30DR-1740Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
2007-03-12EM-3274SnowstormSnow
2005-09-10EM-3238HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2005-01-21DR-1573Severe StormSevere Winter Storms and Flooding
2004-06-03DR-1520Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2003-07-11DR-1476Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2001-01-24EM-3162SnowstormSnow
1999-01-15EM-3135SnowstormIn-Winter Storm 12/23/98
1991-01-05DR-891FloodSevere Storms & Flooding
1977-02-02EM-3028SnowstormSnowstorms
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 Kosciusko County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 15 flood or flash flood records for Kosciusko County from 2000 to 2025, on 15 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Kosciusko County ranks 613th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $4.7 million on 391 claims filed in Kosciusko County; the most in one year was 97 in 2009. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1978: 2 · 1979: 1 · 1980: 3 · 1981: 17 · 1982: 29 · 1985: 19 · 1986: 1 · 1989: 1 · 1990: 15 · 1991: 7 · 1992: 2 · 1993: 3 · 1994: 2 · 1996: 11 · 1997: 5 · 1998: 11 · 1999: 4 · 2000: 1 · 2001: 4 · 2002: 1 · 2004: 2 · 2005: 9 · 2008: 65 · 2009: 97 · 2010: 1 · 2011: 6 · 2013: 23 · 2015: 5 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 19 · 2019: 3 · 2020: 5 · 2023: 1 · 2026: 14; 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 Kosciusko County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Kosciusko County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $24.8 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 Kosciusko County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
Strong WindRelatively High$2.2M5.2 a year (modeled)
TornadoRelatively Moderate$5.4Monce in about 3 years (modeled)
Cold WaveRelatively Moderate$5.0M3.8 a year (modeled)
LightningRelatively Moderate$442K41 a year (modeled)
EarthquakeRelatively Low$680Konce in about 803 years (modeled)
Riverine FloodingRelatively Low$9.9Monce in about 2 years (modeled)
DroughtRelatively Low$266K1.9 modeled event-days a year
Winter WeatherRelatively Low$83K13 a year (modeled)

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

Counties that share a border with Kosciusko County

  1. Elkhart County 706
  2. Kosciusko County 662
  3. Noble County 468
  4. Whitley County 452
  5. Marshall County 439
  6. Fulton County 388
  7. Wabash County 349

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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