Flood Warning Issued for Big Blue River in Henry, Rush, and Shelby Counties

Source: NOAA · Central Indiana

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NWS Indianapolis has issued a Flood Warning for the Big Blue River at Carthage, effective through Friday morning, as heavy rainfall causes the river to exceed flood stage.

What this NWS weather alert tells you, and what most readers miss

This notice was issued by NOAA on March 10, 2026 and geographically references Central Indiana. Its severity classification of "high" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken — "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to — Weather Alerts — determines the regulatory framework behind it, which shapes what remedies (refunds, replacements, recalls, evacuations) are available to affected individuals and who holds statutory responsibility for enforcement.

Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to read it as a data point about the issuing system: how quickly NOAA detected the hazard, how precise the geographic or product-identifier scope is, and whether similar notices have clustered in the same category or region in the last 90 days. Cluster patterns frequently precede a broader regulatory action — a single localized NWS weather alert is isolated; three of them within a quarter often indicate a supply-chain, infrastructure, or seasonal driver that will keep producing notices until something structural changes.

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Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis IN has issued a Flood Warning for the Big Blue River at Carthage. The alert was issued on March 5 at 12:40 PM EST and remains in effect until March 6 at 11:22 AM EST.

Affected Areas

The warning primarily affects the following counties in Indiana:

  • Henry County
  • Rush County
  • Shelby County

Specific impacts are noted for the Big Blue River at Carthage, including the southern outskirts of Knightstown and extreme eastern Raysville.

What You Should Do

Motorists are strictly advised not to attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Residents in the affected areas should monitor local conditions, as additional rainfall over the weekend and next week could lead to further flooding. Avoid flooded riverbanks and low-lying areas.

Expected Conditions

Total rainfall amounts of 3 to over 5 inches across much of central and southern Indiana have triggered this minor flooding event.

  • River Stage: As of 11:30 AM EST Thursday, the river stage was 6.8 feet.
  • Flood Stage: 7.0 feet.
  • Forecast: The river is expected to rise to a crest of 7.8 feet this evening.
  • Impacts: At these levels, local roads near the Big Blue River will flood. Water is expected to surround a few homes in Carthage, enter dog houses in southern Carthage, and affect a used auto parts yard. Water will also be present in yards in the southern outskirts of Knightstown and eastern Raysville.

Timeline

The Flood Warning is effective from the afternoon of Thursday, March 5, through late morning on Friday, March 6. The river is forecast to fall below flood stage late tonight.

Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this NWS weather alert.

What is this NWS weather alert about?
NWS Indianapolis has issued a Flood Warning for the Big Blue River at Carthage, effective through Friday morning, as heavy rainfall causes the river to exceed flood stage.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by NOAA. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Central Indiana. Check with NOAA for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Weather Alerts updates?
Browse the full Weather Alerts feed on Areazine at areazine.com/weather/ for the latest updates from NOAA and other agencies.