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Tornado in Rush County, Indiana
23 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.
Rush County, Indiana, has 23 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 17 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 8 events against 7 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.1% of the 2,103 tornado events recorded in Indiana; its 5.6 per 100 square miles compares with 5.9 statewide.
NCEI attributes 3 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 5 at (E)F0, 10 at (E)F1, 2 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 4 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 1 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Indiana
| Measure | Rush County | Indiana | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 23 | 2,103 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.6 | 5.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 13.8 | 3.1 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 3 | 276 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | June | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
2Mar
0Apr
3May
4Jun
6Jul
3Aug
1Sep
1Oct
0Nov
2Dec
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 23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 May 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2024 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | $47K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | $185K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2019 | Tornado | EF2 | $275K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Dec 2015 | Tornado | EF1 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Feb 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2008 | Tornado | EF3 | $1.0M | — | 1 | 8 | County |
| 28 Aug 2006 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 24 Nov 2004 | Tornado | F1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2004 | Tornado | F1 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2002 | Tornado | F0 | $500K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 22 Nov 1992 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1992 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 1986 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 1980 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | 2 | 25 | County |
| 9 Jul 1980 | Tornado | F4 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1980 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 3 Apr 1974 | Tornado | F4 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 1967 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 1961 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | — | 3 | County |
| 25 Feb 1956 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Rush County had?
23 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 Rush County?
7 May 2024 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Rush County?
The tornado of 25 Apr 1961, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Rush County compare with Indiana for tornado?
5.6 events per 100 square miles against 5.9 statewide; the county holds 23 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.