Lawrence storm history
Storm events recorded in Lawrence, Indiana between 1950 and 2025.
411
Total events
27
Tornadoes
79
Hail
92
Floods
2
Deaths
$51.6M
Property damage
Most significant events
Strongest tornadoes, deadliest events, and biggest damage in this county. Up to 50 shown.
Tornado EF3 Tornado
National Weather Service storm survey teams determined an EF-3 tornado struck near Bedford, damaging or destroying several buildings in a 6.8 mile long swath up to a quarter mile wide.
This brief but powerful tornado had a steady track to the east-northeast, creating damage consistent of an EF3 strength tornado. A rating of EF3 corresponds with winds of 136 to 165 MPH. The maximum width of the tornado was approximately 1/8 mile. It completely destroyed the abov…
Tornado F3 Tornado
Tornado F3 Tornado
Flooding occurred along the East Fork White River in Lawrence County, including in the Rivervale, Bedford, and Williams areas due to heavy rain.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds downed multiple trees.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Indiana Route 54 was flooded by heavy rain. There were no nearby rainfall reports, but radar estimates of 2.5-4.0 inches fell in the area.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Rainfall, reported as great as 3.60 inches north of Oolitic, with bias-corrected radar estimates approaching 6.00 inches northeast of Guthrie, produced flash flooding. Goose Creek overflowed its banks with water flowing over nearby roads in the Oolitic area.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees and utility lines were blown down by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Hail Hail
Flash Flood Flash Flood
State Road 58 was closed near Back Creek Road due to flash flooding. Numerous other roads closed. Total rainfall was between 1.2 and 2.9 inches.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Numerous roads closed due to flash flooding across southeastern Indiana. Exact details were never known, but over 30 water rescues were performed.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Large tree uprooted by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Numerous reports of trees downed by thunderstorm wind gusts across the county with large volumes of debris in the road.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
This eleventh and final tornado to impact central Indiana touched down very briefly in a rural area southeast of Heltonville, immediately northeast of the intersection of Indiana Route 446 and Mundell Church Road. Here, damage was caused to a pole barn with debris blown to the no…
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Tornado EF0 Tornado
A weak tornado began three-quarters of a mile southwest of the Silverville community, and tracked in an overall east-northeast direction before ending about 1.5 miles west-northwest of the Feldun Purdue Agircultural Center. Several farm buildings were impacted amid sporadic tree …
Tornado EF0 Tornado
A short lived tornado began in a ravine about 0.4 of a mile east-northeast of the intersection of Indiana Routes 37 and 54. Tracking to the north-northeast, the majority of the damage was to the west of the southwest corner of Kentucky Hollow Road where a shed was completely dest…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall ranged from 6.5 to 9.8 inches. A Travel Warning was issued for the county due to the impacts of snow on road conditions.
High Wind High Wind
Non-thunderstorm winds downed a couple trees near Williams.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds downed several trees on to Pleasant Run.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds downed several trees across central Lawrence County, from near the intersection of State Roads 158 and 458 to south of Bedford.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A large metal warehouse building sustained damage as thunderstorm wind entered the structure under an awning on the south side of the building. Nearby tree damage was also noted.
Hail Hail
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snowfall ranged from 2.4 to 5.0 inches, with the only report of criteria snowfall in Buddha. A Travel Advisory was issued for the county due to the impacts of snow on road conditions.
Drought Drought
Severe drought intensity that had begun on December 12, 2023 for much of Lawrence County, and expanded across all of Lawrence County on December 19, 2023, then continued into January. Following 2-week precipitation totals of 2.90 to 3.55 inches, severe drought then ended with a d…
Drought Drought
Continued well below normal rainfall caused severe drought intensity to begin on December 12, 2023 for much of, and especially western portions, of Lawrence County. The December 19, 2023 update expanded severe drought across all of Lawrence County. Severe drought was downgraded t…
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Criteria was reached from maximum heat index values exceeding 110 degrees on the afternoon of August 24th. Heat index values were interpolate from data reported by the nearby Hardin Ridge RAWS station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
An eight inch diameter tree, another tree, and two power poles downed by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Large tree uprooted by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Numerous trees and powerlines downed by thunderstorm wind gusts in Bedford and across the county. Over 6000 power outages caused by the storm across the county.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Numerous trees downed by thunderstorm wind gusts across the county with no specific location noted.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A burst of snow fell pre-dawn on the 25th, with as much as 5.0 inches reported north of Mitchell in south-central Lawrence County. A Travel Advisory was issued for the county due to the impacts of the snow's high liquid water content on road conditions.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Temperatures early on the 23rd were as low as -9F, while strong winds gusted as high as 43 mph...resulting in extreme wind chills as low as -34F. Snowfall as great as 2.0 inches combined with the strong winds to produce blowing snow and drifting snow, with visibility as low as 1/…
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Temperatures early on the 23rd were as low as -9F, while strong winds gusted as high as 43 mph...resulting in extreme wind chills as low as -34F.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm produced estimated 1.00 inch hail.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds damaged buildings across the county with no specific location noted.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds downed tree onto house.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds damaged the facade of the Rural King at 1320 James Avenue in Bedford.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall ranged from 3.5 to 6.1 inches with the greatest amount reported south of Harrodsburg. A Travel Watch was issued for the county due to the impacts of snow and ice on road conditions.
Events by year
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | 3 |
| 2024 | 7 | 0 |
| 2023 | 7 | 0 |
| 2022 | 8 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 |
| 2020 | 10 | 0 |
| 2019 | 7 | 0 |
| 2018 | 6 | 0 |
| 2017 | 5 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 |
| 2014 | 6 | 0 |
| 2013 | 10 | 1 |
| 2012 | 19 | 0 |
| 2011 | 30 | 2 |
| 2010 | 13 | 0 |
| 2009 | 19 | 2 |
| 2008 | 36 | 1 |
| 2007 | 14 | 0 |
| 2006 | 14 | 1 |
| 2005 | 12 | 1 |
| 2004 | 15 | 0 |
| 2003 | 17 | 0 |
| 2002 | 18 | 0 |
| 2001 | 9 | 1 |
| 2000 | 6 | 0 |
| 1999 | 10 | 0 |
| 1998 | 8 | 0 |
| 1997 | 6 | 0 |
| 1996 | 15 | 1 |
| 1995 | 2 | 0 |
| 1994 | 3 | 2 |
| 1993 | 2 | 0 |
| 1992 | 5 | 0 |
| 1991 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 | 3 | 2 |
| 1989 | 4 | 0 |
| 1987 | 2 | 0 |
| 1986 | 1 | 0 |
| 1985 | 5 | 0 |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 |
| 1983 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | 2 | 0 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 2 | 0 |
| 1979 | 2 | 0 |
| 1977 | 2 | 0 |
| 1976 | 5 | 0 |
| 1974 | 2 | 1 |
| 1972 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | 1 | 0 |
| 1970 | 2 | 0 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 |
| 1967 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | 1 | 0 |
| 1964 | 1 | 0 |
| 1963 | 2 | 2 |
| 1959 | 1 | 1 |
| 1957 | 2 | 2 |
| 1955 | 1 | 1 |