Noble County, Indiana
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 18113 · population 47,434 · 411 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 468 records for Noble County, Indiana from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 287 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (198 records). The deadliest day on its record was April 3, 1974: tornado records filed for Noble County that day count 4 deaths across 2 records. FEMA has issued 16 declarations naming the county since 1974, 14 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
- 468on 287 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 11107 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $217Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 15strongest 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 Noble County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 198 since 1956. 52% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 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 | 198 | 121 | 1956-2025 | 0 | 3 | $8.9M | 51 of 91 |
| Winter storms | 136 | 107 | 1996-2026 | 7 | 4 | $71K | 18 of 91 |
| Hail | 85 | 45 | 1967-2024 | 0 | 0 | $289K | 58 of 91 |
| High wind and dust storms | 19 | 14 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $35K | 30 of 91 |
| Tornadoes | 15 | 12 | 1954-2025 | 4 | 100 | $208M | 81 of 91 |
| Extreme cold | 5 | 5 | 2014-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 65 of 91 |
| Floods | 5 | 5 | 2000-2017 | 0 | 0 | $462K | 88 of 91 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 2001-2013 | 0 | 0 | $51K | 37 of 91 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 1 | 2005-2005 | 0 | 0 | $30K | 61 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 Noble County had?
NOAA records 15 tornadoes in Noble County from 1954 to 2025, the strongest rated F4, with 4 deaths and 100 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 14 tornadoes whose track touched Noble County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 15: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 5 people, 4 of them in Noble County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974-04-03 17:50, as SPC files it | Angola | F3 | 36.2 mi | 5 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Indiana.
Every tornado record filed for Noble County (15)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-03-30 | Ege, Noble County | EF1 1.41 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 2024-09-24 | Kimmell, Noble County | EF1 7.47 mi x 230 yd | 0 | 0 | $470K |
| 2016-03-31 | Albion, Noble County | EF1 0.51 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-10-24 | Kendallville, Noble County | F1 4 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.9M |
| 2001-10-24 | Indian Vlg, Noble County | F1 19 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $667K |
| 1992-07-14 | Noble County | F2 4 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 28 | $25M step |
| 1992-06-17 | Noble County | F1 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1990-06-02 | Noble County | F2 3.5 mi x 220 yd | 0 | 9 | $250K step |
| 1979-08-08 | Noble County | F1 | 0 | 1 | $250K step |
| 1974-04-03 | Noble County | F3 11.4 mi x 150 yd | 3 | 38 | $25M step |
| 1974-04-03 | Noble County | F4 14.4 mi x 33 yd | 1 | 24 | – |
| 1969-04-17 | Noble County | F0 0.1 mi x 7 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1956-04-03 | Noble County | F1 0.1 mi x 77 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1954-04-07 | Noble County | F0 0.5 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1954-04-07 | Noble County | F1 | 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 Noble County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 27, 2026 strong wind ($10,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-27 | Strong WindNoble County · forecast zone Noble | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-02-06 | Winter WeatherNoble County · forecast zone Noble | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormNoble County · forecast zone Noble | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-14 | Winter WeatherNoble County · forecast zone Noble | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-29 | Winter StormNoble County · forecast zone Noble | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindLigonier, Noble County | 59 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-30 | Thunderstorm WindRome City, Noble County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $13K |
| 2025-03-30 | Thunderstorm WindAlbion, Noble County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $15K |
| 2025-03-30 | Thunderstorm WindWolflake, Noble County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2025-03-30 | Thunderstorm WindAlbion, Noble County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2025-03-30 | TornadoEge, Noble County | EF1 1.41 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 2025-02-12 | Winter WeatherNoble County · forecast zone Noble | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974-04-03 | TornadoNoble County | F3 11.4 mi x 150 yd | 3 | 38 | $25M step |
| 2019-02-11 | Winter WeatherNoble County · forecast zone Noble Police say 50-year-old JJ Reyes was driving the car with his two daughters, 15-year-old Zulia Reyes and 13-year-old Valeria Reyes. He approached a curve on the snowy road and lost control of the vehicle. Police say it appears his speed was too fast for the conditions. The car slid off the road and went into a ditch ... | 3 | 0 | – | |
| 2008-02-29 | Winter WeatherNoble County · forecast zone Noble The snow was a contributing factor to a 2-car accident in Noble County. A SUV carrying four passengers collided with another vehicle after crossing the centerline. Fatalities included a 28-year-old male and his 5-year-old son. Two other passengers, the 24-year-old wife of the driver and the wife’s 15-year-old sister ... | 2 | 2 | – | |
| 2019-01-28 | Winter WeatherNoble County · forecast zone Noble Snow overspread around daybreak on January 28th and continued through early January 29th. Some freezing drizzle did mix in during the late afternoon and evening hours. Total snow accumulations across the county ranged between 3 and 5 inches. This in tandem with 30 mph wind gusts created difficult travel conditions. ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 1974-04-03 | TornadoNoble County | F4 14.4 mi x 33 yd | 1 | 24 | – |
| 1992-07-14 | TornadoNoble County | F2 4 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 28 | $25M step |
| 1990-06-02 | TornadoNoble County | F2 3.5 mi x 220 yd | 0 | 9 | $250K step |
| 2008-12-26 | Winter WeatherNoble County and Whitley County · forecast zone Whitley Periods of freezing rain and freezing drizzle during the morning of December 26th led to extremely icy roads across Whitley County. There were numerous reports of slide-offs and accidents. A stretch of US 30 near Larwill had to be shut down where a hilly area had iced over and vehicles were having problems climbing ... | 0 | 2 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindNear Ligonier, Noble County | 0 | 0 | $7.4M | |
| 2001-10-24 | TornadoKendallville, Noble County | F1 4 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.9M |
| 2001-10-24 | TornadoIndian Vlg, Noble County | F1 19 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $667K |
| 2001-10-24 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Noble County | 0 | 0 | $667K | |
| 2024-09-24 | TornadoKimmell, Noble County | EF1 7.47 mi x 230 yd | 0 | 0 | $470K |
| 2009-03-10 | FloodWakefield Vlg, Noble County | 0 | 0 | $413K | |
| 2024-05-07 | HailKendallville, Noble County | 3.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $188K |
| 2011-07-11 | Thunderstorm WindWakefield Vlg, Noble County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $98K |
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 $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 3, 1974 (tornado, Noble County, 3 killed); July 14, 1992 (tornado, Noble 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 Noble 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 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 24 | 47 | 63 | 29 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 41 | 69 | 23 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 17 | 38 | 12 | 8 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 12 | 4 | 2 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
52% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 47 · Feb 51 · Mar 40 · Apr 29 · May 53 · Jun 75 · Jul 54 · Aug 35 · Sep 18 · Oct 11 · Nov 18 · Dec 37 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Noble County
FEMA's register lists 16 declarations that include Noble County: 10 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (7) and snowstorm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3641 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| 2009-04-22 | DR-1832 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2008-01-30 | DR-1740 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 2001-01-24 | EM-3162 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 1999-01-15 | EM-3135 | Snowstorm | In-Winter Storm 12/23/98 |
| 1992-09-18 | DR-962 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1991-01-05 | DR-891 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1974-04-04 | DR-423 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
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 Noble County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 5 flood or flash flood records for Noble County from 2000 to 2017, on 5 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Noble County ranks 882nd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.8 million on 226 claims filed in Noble County; the most in one year was 37 in 2017. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 2 · 1981: 4 · 1982: 16 · 1984: 1 · 1985: 9 · 1990: 15 · 1991: 4 · 1992: 1 · 1993: 15 · 1996: 6 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 6 · 1999: 1 · 2001: 2 · 2003: 1 · 2004: 1 · 2006: 2 · 2007: 4 · 2008: 29 · 2009: 28 · 2010: 3 · 2011: 4 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 3 · 2015: 19 · 2017: 37 · 2018: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2026: 4; 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 Noble County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Noble County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $13.1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $1.3M | 5.2 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $2.8M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $628K | 3.4 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $474K | 1.9 modeled event-days a year |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.2M | 3.6 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $5.9M | once in about 9 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $189K | 39 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $46K | 12 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 Noble 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 Noble CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Noble County's FEMA declarations (CSV)16 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis