Indiana, 1996

Winter Storm in Indiana, March 19 to 20, 1996

March 19 to 20, 1996 · NWS PAH · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A state of emergency was declared in the six southwestern Indiana counties. Snowfall accumulations were near a foot, but strong winds created many drifts 4 to 5 feet deep.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS PAH wrote it up.

A state of emergency was declared in the six southwestern Indiana counties. Snowfall accumulations were near a foot, but strong winds created many drifts 4 to 5 feet deep. The heavy wet snow combined with strong winds brought down many tree limbs and power lines. Visibility became so poor that some county highway crews were called off the job. Emergency shelters were set up for people without heat or electricity. Power outages were widespread during the storm. The National Guard was mobilized to help rescue families stranded on impassable roads. Even some National Guard humvee vehicles became stuck in snow drifts up to 6 feet deep. Nearly a dozen school busses were stranded in ditches after students were released from school early. Numerous secondary roads and a few state roads were impassable for one to three days. Front end loaders and bulldozers were used to clear roads of downed trees, deep snow drifts, and abandoned vehicles.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Gibson

When
March 19, 7:00 AM CST to March 20, 2:00 AM CST
Where
Gibson forecast zone
Coordinates
38.312, -87.585 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Pike

When
March 19, 7:00 AM CST to March 20, 2:00 AM CST
Where
Pike forecast zone
Coordinates
38.399, -87.232 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Posey

When
March 19, 7:00 AM CST to March 20, 2:00 AM CST
Where
Posey forecast zone
Coordinates
38.022, -87.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Vanderburgh

When
March 19, 7:00 AM CST to March 20, 2:00 AM CST
Where
Vanderburgh forecast zone
Coordinates
38.025, -87.586 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Warrick

When
March 19, 7:00 AM CST to March 20, 2:00 AM CST
Where
Warrick forecast zone
Coordinates
38.092, -87.272 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Spencer

When
March 19, 7:00 AM CST to March 20, 2:00 AM CST
Where
Spencer forecast zone
Coordinates
38.014, -87.008 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Indiana in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, March 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5546901, 5546902, 5546903, 5546904, 5546905, 5546906.