Flood in Bartholomew County, Indiana

Clifty Creek, rose through minor flood stage late on the 4th in Columbus, which was amplified by additional isolated downpours during the afternoon that totaled mainly 0.10-0.50 inches. Twelve homeless individuals and three dogs had to be water rescued from their encampment under the US Highway 31 bridge over Clifty Creek.

During March 3 to March 7, 2026, large surface high pressure from the southeastern United States into the Atlantic focused a broad fetch of Gulf moisture northward into the Midwest. A quasi-stationary frontal boundary near the Ohio Valley provided lift and focused, at times heavy rainfall over much of central Indiana, especially along the valley of the East Fork White River, and its tributaries northeast of Columbus through east-central central Indiana.

From the morning of the 3rd through dawn on the 4th, heavy rainfall over the watershed of the East Fork White's headwaters totaled mainly 2.00-3.75 inches. Additional 1-day rainfall to dawn on the 5th, along the river's main stem from Columbus down through Martin County totaled generally 1.50-3.00 inches. Further 2.5-day rainfall through late on the 7th was generally 1.00-2.00 inches along this main stem. Overall 4.5-day rainfall totals were 4.00 to 6.00 inches for most portions of the entire East Fork White watershed.

Resultant widespread significant river flooding, including adjacent lowlands, from the Columbus area downstream through Jackson County, Lawrence County, and Martin County necessitated multiple water rescues. Four persons over three counties perished when swept away by flood waters from the 6th to the 9th - three in motor vehicles and one in an airboat that encountered mechanical failure.