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Tornado in Putnam County, Indiana
22 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 22 tornado events in Putnam County, Indiana, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 18 years.
May is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 6 events against 10 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1% of the 2,103 tornado events recorded in Indiana; its 4.6 per 100 square miles compares with 5.9 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 6 at (E)F0, 10 at (E)F1, 4 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 1 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Indiana
| Measure | Putnam County | Indiana | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 22 | 2,103 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.6 | 5.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 5.9 | 3.1 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 276 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
1Apr
0May
6Jun
4Jul
4Aug
3Sep
0Oct
2Nov
1Dec
1
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 22 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jun 2026 | Tornado | EF1 | $400K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2025 | Tornado | EF0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2015 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2015 | Tornado | EF1 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Oct 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | $45K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2003 | Tornado | F1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2003 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2002 | Tornado | F1 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 1993 | Tornado | F1 | $5K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 22 Nov 1992 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 2 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | 1 | 1 | County |
| 25 May 1989 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1989 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Oct 1988 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 1988 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1979 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Mar 1976 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1973 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 1969 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 7 | County |
| 11 Dec 1967 | Tornado | — | $3K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 21 Jul 1961 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Putnam County had?
22 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Putnam County?
16 Jun 2026 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Putnam County?
The tornado of 22 Nov 1992, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Putnam County compare with Indiana for tornado?
4.6 events per 100 square miles against 5.9 statewide; the county holds 22 of the state's 2,103 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.