Indiana, 1996

Winter Storm in Indiana, March 19 to 20, 1996

March 19 to 20, 1996 · NWS ILN · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

On the first day of spring a major winter snow storm struck the region. Low pressure moving ever so slowly across Pennsylvania was responsible for the snow, and this low also brought strong winds with gusts up to 40 mph.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 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
8

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 ILN wrote it up.

On the first day of spring a major winter snow storm struck the region. Low pressure moving ever so slowly across Pennsylvania was responsible for the snow, and this low also brought strong winds with gusts up to 40 mph. It was a heavy wet snow which ripped down power lines and trees. Highways became snow covered and slippery causing numerous traffic accidents. In Southeast Indiana, there were over 190,000 customers without power at times. Most areas had between 4 and 8 inches of snow with a maximum of 13 inches reported in Southeast Indiana. The least amount of snow of 1 to 3 inches accumulated near the low lying areas of the Ohio River where more melting occurred on the relatively warmer ground.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Wayne

When
March 19, 2:00 PM EST to March 20, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Wayne forecast zone
Coordinates
39.864, -85.010 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Fayette

When
March 19, 2:00 PM EST to March 20, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Fayette forecast zone
Coordinates
39.640, -85.179 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Union

When
March 19, 2:00 PM EST to March 20, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Union forecast zone
Coordinates
39.626, -84.925 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Franklin

When
March 19, 2:00 PM EST to March 20, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Franklin forecast zone
Coordinates
39.415, -85.060 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Ripley

When
March 19, 2:00 PM EST to March 20, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Ripley forecast zone
Coordinates
39.104, -85.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Dearborn

When
March 19, 2:00 PM EST to March 20, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Dearborn forecast zone
Coordinates
39.145, -84.973 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Ohio

When
March 19, 2:00 PM EST to March 20, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Ohio forecast zone
Coordinates
38.950, -84.965 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Switzerland

When
March 19, 2:00 PM EST to March 20, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Switzerland forecast zone
Coordinates
38.826, -85.037 (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: 5549208, 5549209, 5549210, 5549211, 5549212, 5549213, 5549214, 5549215.