Whitley County, Indiana
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 18183 · population 34,144 · 336 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 452 records for Whitley County, Indiana from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 296 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (205 records). The most damaging was the March 8, 2009 tornado ($688,000 in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 15 declarations naming the county since 1977, 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
- 452on 296 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 03 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $5.9Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 16strongest F2
- 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 Whitley County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 205 since 1957. 50% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 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 | 205 | 126 | 1957-2026 | 0 | 0 | $3.5M | 24 of 91 |
| Hail | 97 | 57 | 1961-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2K | 20 of 91 |
| Winter storms | 92 | 90 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 2 | $36K | 16 of 91 |
| Floods | 20 | 18 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 0 | $767K | 68 of 91 |
| Tornadoes | 16 | 15 | 1954-2023 | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | 58 of 91 |
| High wind and dust storms | 12 | 12 | 2001-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1K | 27 of 91 |
| Extreme cold | 5 | 5 | 2014-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 37 of 91 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 2001-2008 | 0 | 1 | $103K | 31 of 91 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2005-2005 | 0 | 0 | $53K | 41 of 91 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2005-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 42 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 Whitley County had?
NOAA records 16 tornadoes in Whitley County from 1954 to 2023, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 0 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 Whitley County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 16: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Indiana.
Every tornado record filed for Whitley County (16)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-07-29 | Collins, Whitley County | EF0 0.6 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $29K |
| 2014-07-01 | Collamer, Whitley County | EF1 0.45 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-10-26 | Columbia City Airport, Whitley County | EF1 2.19 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-10-26 | Luther, Whitley County | EF0 1.62 mi x 175 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-03-08 | Columbia City, Whitley County | EF1 0.23 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $688K |
| 2008-07-08 | Coesse, Whitley County | EF0 0.17 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $32K |
| 1998-03-28 | Laud, Whitley County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-06-15 | Whitley County | F0 0.2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1981-04-13 | Whitley County | F1 2 mi x 123 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1979-10-01 | Whitley County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1973-06-26 | Whitley County | F1 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1967-06-21 | Whitley County | F1 2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1965-08-08 | Whitley County | 0 | 0 | $3K step | |
| 1965-07-16 | Whitley County | F2 2.7 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1963-06-10 | Whitley County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1954-06-21 | Whitley County | F1 | 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 Whitley County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 18, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindCoesse, Whitley County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindCollins, Whitley County | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-13 | High WindWhitley County · forecast zone Whitley | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-02-19 | HailColumbia City Airport, Whitley County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-19 | HailRaber, Whitley County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-19 | HailPeabody, Whitley County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-19 | HailSouth Whitley, Whitley County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-06 | Winter WeatherWhitley County · forecast zone Whitley | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormWhitley County · forecast zone Whitley | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-14 | Winter WeatherWhitley County · forecast zone Whitley | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-29 | Winter StormWhitley County · forecast zone Whitley | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindChurubusco, Whitley County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $25K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | – | |
| 2001-06-19 | LightningColumbia City, Whitley County 12 year old girl struck by lightning. Treated and released from hospital. | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-03-08 | TornadoColumbia City, Whitley County | EF1 0.23 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $688K |
| 1996-07-07 | Thunderstorm WindSouth Whitley, Whitley County | 0 | 0 | $376K | |
| 2022-05-27 | Flash FloodTri Lakes, Whitley County | 0 | 0 | $303K | |
| 2024-09-20 | Thunderstorm WindColumbia City, Whitley County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $282K |
| 2024-05-07 | Thunderstorm WindLarwill, Whitley County | 74 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $71K |
| 2008-07-08 | TornadoCoesse, Whitley County | EF0 0.17 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $32K |
| 2025-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindChurubusco, Whitley County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 2025-03-30 | Thunderstorm WindColumbia City, Whitley County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $20K |
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 $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 16, 1965 (tornado, Whitley County); June 21, 1967 (tornado, Whitley County); June 26, 1973 (tornado, Whitley 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 Whitley 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 | 2 | 6 | 24 | 21 | 44 | 54 | 52 |
| Hail | 0 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 17 | 44 | 15 | 7 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 20 | 52 | 19 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 6 | 7 | 4 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
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 1957 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 34 · Feb 39 · Mar 28 · Apr 19 · May 50 · Jun 99 · Jul 60 · Aug 48 · Sep 18 · Oct 14 · Nov 18 · Dec 25 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Whitley County
FEMA's register lists 15 declarations that include Whitley County: 8 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (7) and snowstorm (4).
| 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 |
| 1996-07-03 | DR-1125 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1977-02-02 | EM-3028 | Snowstorm | Snowstorms |
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 Whitley County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 20 flood or flash flood records for Whitley County from 1996 to 2023, on 18 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Whitley County ranks 1928th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $157,000 on 29 claims filed in Whitley County; the most in one year was 4 in 1982. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1981: 3 · 1982: 4 · 1985: 3 · 1990: 2 · 1991: 1 · 1996: 1 · 2003: 1 · 2005: 1 · 2008: 2 · 2009: 3 · 2013: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2025: 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 Whitley County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Whitley 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $446K | 1.9 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $827K | 5.2 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $2.1M | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $497K | 4.9 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $265K | 3.5 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $466K | 3.7 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $33K | 11 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $2K | once in about 12 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Whitley 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 Whitley CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Whitley County's FEMA declarations (CSV)15 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis