Flood Warning Issued for East Fork White River at Columbus Through Sunday Morning

Source: NOAA · South-Central Indiana

This alert is no longer in effect.

NOAA issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).

Areazine synthesizes this NWS weather alert directly from NOAA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Bartholomew and Jackson counties as the East Fork White River is expected to rise above flood stage following heavy rainfall.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Flood Warning
Affected area
South-Central Indiana
Issued
April 6, 2026
Issuing authority
NWS Indianapolis

Flood notices turn on location and timing. Treat the named area as this record's scope; do not assume nearby counties, parishes, or waterways were included.

Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in South-Central Indiana.

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis IN has issued a Flood Warning for the East Fork White River at Columbus. This alert follows reports of 2 to 4 inches of rain falling across central Indiana, with up to 2 inches recorded in south-central Indiana as of early Wednesday morning.

Affected Areas

The primary geographic regions affected include Bartholomew and Jackson counties in Indiana. Specific attention is directed toward the East Fork White River at Columbus. Other rivers in the region, including the Big Blue, Driftwood, Flatrock, White, and Eel rivers, are also under monitoring or warnings as creeks rise above flood stage.

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers in the affected areas are advised to take the following precautions:

  • Do not drive through flooded areas: Motorists should never attempt to drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth.
  • Stay Informed: Monitor local weather updates. The next official statement from the NWS is expected by approximately 7:00 PM EST this evening.
  • Avoid Riverbanks: Stay away from rising river waters and flooded creeks.

Expected Conditions

Minor flooding is currently forecast for the East Fork White River at Columbus.

  • Current Stage: As of 3:00 AM EST Wednesday, the river stage was 2.3 feet.
  • Flood Stage: The flood stage for this location is 9.0 feet.
  • Forecast Crest: The river is expected to rise to a crest of 10.9 feet by early Friday afternoon.
  • Historical Context: At a stage of 11.2 feet, State Road 11 in the Garden City area typically closes. During the March 2008 flood, nearly every road crossing the East Fork White River in Bartholomew County, except for State Road 46, was submerged.

Timeline

The Flood Warning is effective from late tonight, March 5, through Sunday morning, March 8. The river is expected to rise above flood stage late tonight, reach its crest on Friday afternoon, and fall below flood stage by Saturday evening.

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?
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Bartholomew and Jackson counties as the East Fork White River is expected to rise above flood stage following heavy rainfall.
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 South-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.