Pike County

Every recorded tornado

1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Pike County: 6.
2. Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.

Every storm within 100 miles

1. Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.

National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.

Smoke overhead

1. A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.

NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.

River crests

River gauges

1. Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.

NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.

1. The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.

NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.

Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles

1. Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the county boundary (or inside the county).
2. Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.

More event types since 1996

Costliest events since 1996

1. Sep 14, 2008High Wind, Pike$3.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Frequent wind gusts from 50 to 70 mph caused numerous problems in southwest Indiana. The low pressure center that was the remnant of Hurricane Ike raced northeast at 40 to 50 mph across Missouri and Illinois. The center passed between Carbondale, IL and St. Louis, MO on its way toward the northeastern states. The rapid speed of the low pressure system contributed to this high wind event. A peak wind gust of 64 mph was measured by the automated observing system at the Evansville airport. The highest sustained wind at the airport was 47 mph. An unofficial wind gust of 66 mph was measured at Newburgh.||Extensive tree damage occurred. Trees were uprooted and very large limbs were…

2. Mar 15, 2025Tornado$1.5 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   An EF-2 tornado developed just northeast of Haubstadt in Gibson County and moved northeast through Oakland City and into Pike County. It continued northeast through mostly rural areas, damaging trees, power poles and outbuildings, and eventually crossed the White River into Daviess County just east of County Road 257. The most significant damage occurred along County Road 356 east of Algiers, where several metal truss high transmission towers were crumpled. The estimated peak wind was 120 mph. The total length of the tornado was just shy of 58 miles.

3. May 25, 2006Tornado$1.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   About five homes were destroyed. Roughly 15 other homes received major damage, primarily to roofs. Some roofs were removed. Two businesses sustained major roof damage. One mobile home was overturned and blown into a neighboring mobile home, causing extensive damage to it. Individuals were trapped in one home, but no injuries were reported. One travel trailer and one tractor trailer were overturned. Numerous trees and power lines were downed, blocking roads into the community. The damage path began just west of the intersection of Highway 356 and County Road 900E. The damage path extended east-southeast, ending just northwest of County Road 250N where it intersects the Dubois…

4. Jan 26, 2009Winter Storm, Pike$500,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   A major winter storm dumped 6 to 10 inches of sleet and snow north and west of Evansville, including Pike County. In addition to the sleet and snow, up to one-half inch of ice coated objects. This resulted in very difficult driving conditions. Numerous vehicles slid off roadways. Schools were out for several days. Isolated power outages affected a small number of people north and west of Evansville. From Evansville south and east, a major ice storm occurred. About one inch of ice accumulated. This resulted in widespread tree damage and numerous power outages. In the city of Evansville itself, several inches of sleet and snow were combined with nearly an inch of ice. The weight of…

5. Jan 3, 2005Flood, Pike$500,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Major flooding of the White River occurred, prompting local emergency declarations in Gibson and Pike Counties. Floodfighting activities included the National Guard, which reinforced levees. Of particular concern was the levee protecting the community of Hazleton, which developed weak spots and some leaks. One-third to one-half of Hazleton was threatened by the levee failure, and 21 people were evacuated as a precautionary measure. The Governor of Indiana visited Hazleton during a tour of the flooding. Two feet of water was over the floor of a Hazleton home unprotected by the levee. Some lowland residents all along the river were evacuated. A total of 43 Gibson County residents…

6. Apr 15, 1998Tornado$500,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   The tornado destroyed two large barns and five or six smaller outbuildings. Significant damage occurred to two farm houses. Several trees and power poles were snapped off. Some two-by-fours and a large saw blade were embedded in homes.

7. May 10, 1996Flash Flood$500,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Around 3 inches of rain fell during the evening. State Route 56 was one of several roads that was flooded. Total damage from flash flooding and flooding of the Patoka and White Rivers was considerable. Repeat occurrences of heavy rain from late April into early May resulted in up to a foot of rain during the period. The damage estimate is for all flooding in the county.

8. May 1, 2011Flood$300,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Major flooding continued on the White River from April. At the Petersburg river gage, the river crested at 26.88 feet on May 3. This was the fifth highest crest on record, and less than a foot below the January, 2005 flood. The Dodge City area flooded extensively. Levees were monitored, but no major problems were reported. Numerous roads flooded. Flood waters approached State Road 56 near Bowman. Livestock were moved. Several bottomland roads were flooded, some by several feet of water. Flooded roads east of State Route 57 included County Roads 750N, 600N, and 1000E. Pike County roads flooded west of State Route 57 included County Roads 250W, 400W, 675N, 700N, 1000W, 900W, 700W, and 775W.

9. May 12, 2002Flash Flood$280,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   In Gibson County, a van was swept off a road between Fort Branch and Haubstadt. Numerous roads in Gibson County were reportedly covered by water. In Pike County, flash flooding washed out two bridges and several culverts. Several mudslides occurred along roads. Portions of State Highways 56 West and 64 West were closed, as well as numerous county roads. About 25 homes were damaged by flash flooding at various places throughout Pike County. Several houses in Petersburg had water in them. A couple of businesses and a few vehicles were flooded.

10. Feb 28, 2011Tornado$250,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    The tornado entered Pike County from Gibson County about 1.5 miles east of Oakland City. Damage was primarily to trees in this rural area. Hundreds of large trees were snapped off or uprooted, and barn roofs were blown off. A garage was demolished near Arthur. The most intense damage occurred two miles east of Arthur, where peak winds were estimated near 115 mph. Average path width was 300 yards.

1. Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.

All-time high

113°FJul 28, 1930

All-time low

−19°F3 times, most recently Dec 23, 1989

Warmest night

82°F5 times, most recently Jun 19, 1995

Coldest day

−3°FDec 22, 1989

Wettest day

6.20 inJul 25, 2022

Snowiest day

15.0 inJan 25, 1904

Hottest year

2024mean 59.6°F

Coldest year

1904mean 52.6°F

Wettest year

195063.01 in

Driest year

196326.11 in

Snowiest season

28.1 in1978-79

Station Washington 1 W (USC00129253), 482 ft elevation, 15.4 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1896 to October 26, 2026; 85.9% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.

NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.

Neighbouring counties

• Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
• Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
• Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
• Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
• Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
• Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
• Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USC00129253.
• River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
• Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
• Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
• Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.

Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.