Indianapolis, IN Tornado History — 144 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Indianapolis, IN had?
Indianapolis has had 144 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 15 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Indianapolis?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Indianapolis was an EF2 on April 2, 2025.
When is tornado season in Indianapolis?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Indianapolis, with 29 on record. April through June account for 70 of the 144 tornadoes on record near Indianapolis.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Indianapolis
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 35 total, averaging 1.8 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Indianapolis since December 29, 2025
These are 3 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
A brief EF-0 tornado with estimated peak winds of 76 mph uprooted or snapped multiples trees. A few structures also sustained minor siding damage and a truck trailer wa (IND)
An EF-1 tornado with path length of 4.26 miles and a path width of 50 yards began at this location. The tornado had a peak wind of 90 mph with impacts to several farms (IND)
An EF-0 tornado with path length of 0.84 miles and path width of 50 yards began at this location. The peak winds were 85 mph with most damage associated with tree damag (IND)
Within 25 miles of Indianapolis. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Indianapolis
2 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Indianapolis and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 2, 2025 and the most recent on April 2, 2025. They are already counted in the Indianapolis totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
An EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 105 mph and a path length of 6.60 miles tracked in an east-northeasterly direction through mainly southeastern portions of the Carmel (IND)
An EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 100 mph and a path length of 1.53 miles was a secondary tornado that tracked north of the main tornado...from west of CR 1000 East to (IND)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Indianapolis
4 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Indianapolis since 1950, across 3 events. 327 injuries have been reported across all events. 1954 was the deadliest year on record near Indianapolis.
The deadliest single event was an F3 on October 11, 1954, which caused 2 fatalities along a 4.7-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Indianapolis
What the record shows near Indianapolis
The 1970s were the busiest decade near Indianapolis, with 27 of the 144 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 10 so far. The Indianapolis record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Indianapolis, 92 reached EF0 or EF1 and 52 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Indianapolis is rated EF4, of which 3 are logged.
Across the last 20 years Indianapolis has averaged 1.8 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 35 in total. 2016 was the busiest of them with 7, and 7 of those years passed with none at all.