Flash Flood — Hamilton, Indiana

2024-08-01 · near Riverwood, Hamilton, Indiana

Event narrative

Deep floodwaters noted on Middletown Avenue which made it up to Durbin Elementary. Widespread significant flash flooding on roads east of Noblesville. Rain amounts of 3.5 inches in one hour recorded on an automated weather station. Another nearby rain gauge had 5.5 inches of precipitation. Hamilton County Emergency Management issued a travel advisory due to flooding concerns across the county.

Wider weather episode

A remnant southwest to northeast boundary from early morning convection combined with an approaching upper trough and associated cold front, as well as anomalous precipitable water values up to 2.00 inches and CAPE around 2000 J/kg. Resultant thunderstorms came in two phases, first a marginally severe bow echo that crossed far southwestern central Indiana, and then torrential, training downpours from northern portions of the Indianapolis Metro into Hamilton and Madison Counties. Impacts ranged from isolated tree damage in both Knox and Daviess Counties, and then rainfall up to 4.50 inches, which included rates up to 3.00 inches/hour, that produced flash flooding in Marion, Hamilton, and Henry Counties. The greatest impact was significant flooding on Interstate Route 465 on the Fall Creek Bridge that caused long delays during rush hour, while other flooding occurred mainly across eastern Hamilton County.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (40.0816, -85.9639)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1192545. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.