Wells County, Indiana
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 18179 · population 28,178 · 368 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 374 records for Wells County, Indiana from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 254 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (133 records). The deadliest single record is the April 11, 1965 tornado: 1 death and 38 injuries. FEMA has issued 15 declarations naming the county since 1965, 13 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
- 374on 254 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 444 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $261Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 17strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 15latest 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 Wells County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 133 since 1963. 50% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1963 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 | 133 | 98 | 1963-2026 | 0 | 2 | $1.1M | 64 of 91 |
| Winter storms | 106 | 78 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 0 | $71K | 30 of 91 |
| Hail | 79 | 47 | 1956-2026 | 0 | 0 | $230K | 44 of 91 |
| Tornadoes | 17 | 16 | 1955-2026 | 1 | 42 | $251M | 62 of 91 |
| High wind and dust storms | 16 | 11 | 2002-2026 | 0 | 0 | $439 | 42 of 91 |
| Floods | 12 | 9 | 1998-2019 | 1 | 0 | $7.7M | 85 of 91 |
| Extreme cold | 5 | 5 | 2014-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 49 of 91 |
| Lightning | 5 | 4 | 2001-2008 | 0 | 0 | $487K | 24 of 91 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2005-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 47 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 Wells County had?
NOAA records 17 tornadoes in Wells County from 1955 to 2026, the strongest rated F4, with 1 death and 42 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 17 tornadoes whose track touched Wells County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 17, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 4 people, 1 of them in Wells County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965-04-11 19:10, as SPC files it | Montpelier to BerneCrossed IN, OH | F4 | 52.5 mi | 4 |
| 2019-05-27 18:59, as SPC files it | Montpelier | EF3 | 12.76 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Indiana.
Every tornado record filed for Wells County (17)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-11 | Vera Cruz, Wells County | EF0 2.59 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2019-05-27 | Mc Natts, Wells County | EF3 12.76 mi x 1,200 yd | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2016-08-24 | Mc Natts, Wells County | EF0 0.04 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-07-04 | Liberty Center, Wells County | F1 6 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $80K |
| 2002-11-10 | Petroleum, Wells County | F0 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 1998-06-11 | Poneto, Wells County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $272K |
| 1994-07-02 | Poneto, Wells County | F0 0.5 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 1990-06-08 | Wells County | F0 0.1 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1986-07-12 | Wells County | F1 5 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1982-03-16 | Wells County | F1 9 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1974-04-03 | Wells County | F1 10.9 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1974-04-03 | Wells County | F2 14.4 mi x 177 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1967-12-21 | Wells County | F2 | 0 | 2 | $25K step |
| 1965-04-11 | Wells County | F4 15.3 mi x 33 yd | 1 | 38 | $25M step |
| 1961-03-06 | Wells County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1956-06-24 | Wells County | F2 2.3 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1955-10-06 | Wells County | F1 0.5 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K 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 Wells County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 16, 2026 hail ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-16 | HailKeystone, Wells County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindBluffton, Wells County | 57 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-13 | High WindWells County · forecast zone Wells | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-11 | TornadoVera Cruz, Wells County | EF0 2.59 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2026-02-19 | HailOssian, Wells County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-19 | HailOssian, Wells County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-06 | Winter WeatherWells County · forecast zone Wells | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormWells County · forecast zone Wells | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-14 | Winter WeatherWells County · forecast zone Wells | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-29 | Winter StormWells County · forecast zone Wells | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindBluffton, Wells County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindOssian, Wells County | 56 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
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965-04-11 | TornadoWells County | F4 15.3 mi x 33 yd | 1 | 38 | $25M step |
| 2013-12-13 | Winter StormWells County · forecast zone Wells Snow, moderate at times, overspread the area late December 13th and continued into December 14th. Total snow accumulations across the county ranged between 6 and 8 inches. There were reports of slide-offs and accidents as roads became snow covered and hazardous. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2012-01-12 | Winter WeatherAllen County and Wells County · forecast zone Wells Snow developed during the afternoon hours of January 12th and continued into the first part of January 13th. Total snow amounts across the county were generally near 2 inches. Sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts to 30 mph, led to considerable blowing and drifting snow. There were reports of slide-offs and ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2003-07-05 | FloodAllen County and Wells County · forecast zone Wells The Wabash river in Bluffton reached the second highest crest on record at 18.3 feet. Flood stage is 10 feet. Emergency management reported an estimated damage amount for homes and business as well as damage to infrastructure. | 1 | 0 | $7.2M | |
| 2019-05-27 | TornadoMc Natts, Wells County The same supercell that produced a tornado in Grant County moved east and underwent several storm mergers as it moved over eastern Grant County. The merger caused the thunderstorm to shift southeastwards with time before mirroring the Blackford and Wells County lines. This thunderstorm produced a tornado with multiple ... | EF3 12.76 mi x 1,200 yd | 0 | 2 | – |
| 1990-06-03 | Thunderstorm WindWells County | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 1967-12-21 | TornadoWells County | F2 | 0 | 2 | $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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-07-05 | FloodAllen County and Wells County · forecast zone Wells | 1 | 0 | $7.2M | |
| 1998-07-22 | Flash FloodBluffton, Wells County | 0 | 0 | $453K | |
| 2008-06-09 | LightningBluffton, Wells County | 0 | 0 | $343K | |
| 1998-06-11 | TornadoPoneto, Wells County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $272K |
| 2010-10-26 | Thunderstorm WindPoneto, Wells County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $135K |
| 1994-07-02 | TornadoPoneto, Wells County | F0 0.5 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 2003-07-04 | TornadoLiberty Center, Wells County | F1 6 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $80K |
| 2026-03-11 | TornadoVera Cruz, Wells County | EF0 2.59 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $50K |
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 11, 1965 (tornado, Wells 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 Wells 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 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 17 | 38 | 36 | 22 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 33 | 52 | 16 |
| Hail | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 21 | 24 | 19 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 11 | 3 | 2 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
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 1963 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 39 · Feb 43 · Mar 41 · Apr 18 · May 33 · Jun 68 · Jul 42 · Aug 26 · Sep 10 · Oct 7 · Nov 18 · Dec 29 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Wells County
FEMA's register lists 15 declarations that include Wells County: 8 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for snowstorm (4) and severe storm (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 |
| 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 |
| 1991-03-29 | DR-899 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Ice Storm |
| 1991-01-05 | DR-891 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-02-02 | EM-3028 | Snowstorm | Snowstorms |
| 1974-04-04 | DR-423 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
| 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 Wells County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 12 flood or flash flood records for Wells County from 1998 to 2019, on 9 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Wells County ranks 1748th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $757,000 on 42 claims filed in Wells County; the most in one year was 19 in 2003. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1985: 1 · 1989: 2 · 1993: 1 · 1996: 1 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 2 · 1999: 1 · 2003: 19 · 2004: 1 · 2005: 1 · 2008: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2015: 6 · 2019: 3; 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 Wells County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Wells County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $9.6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $2.1M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $684K | 4.6 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $410K | 5 modeled event-days a year |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $77K | 0.9 modeled event-days a year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $5.4M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $396K | 3.7 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $332K | once in about 669 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Very Low | $168K | 3.7 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 Wells 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 Wells CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Wells County's FEMA declarations (CSV)15 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis