Indiana, 1996

Ice Storm in Indiana, March 6 to 7, 1996

March 6 to 7, 1996 · NWS ILN · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

North winds behind a cold front sagging across the region caused a shallow layer of below freezing air to penetrate deep into the Ohio Valley. Precipitation falling over the region changed from rain and drizzle to freezing rain and freezing drizzle, and then eventually to sleet and snow from north to south.

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.

North winds behind a cold front sagging across the region caused a shallow layer of below freezing air to penetrate deep into the Ohio Valley. Precipitation falling over the region changed from rain and drizzle to freezing rain and freezing drizzle, and then eventually to sleet and snow from north to south. Total snow accumulations were less than an inch. Numerous car accidents occurred over a large area.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Wayne

When
March 6, 12:00 PM EST to March 7, 9:00 AM EST
Where
Wayne forecast zone
Coordinates
39.864, -85.010 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Fayette

When
March 6, 12:00 PM EST to March 7, 9:00 AM EST
Where
Fayette forecast zone
Coordinates
39.640, -85.179 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Union

When
March 6, 12:00 PM EST to March 7, 9:00 AM EST
Where
Union forecast zone
Coordinates
39.626, -84.925 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Franklin

When
March 6, 12:00 PM EST to March 7, 9:00 AM EST
Where
Franklin forecast zone
Coordinates
39.415, -85.060 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Ripley

When
March 6, 12:00 PM EST to March 7, 9:00 AM EST
Where
Ripley forecast zone
Coordinates
39.104, -85.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Dearborn

When
March 6, 12:00 PM EST to March 7, 9:00 AM EST
Where
Dearborn forecast zone
Coordinates
39.145, -84.973 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Ohio

When
March 6, 12:00 PM EST to March 7, 9:00 AM EST
Where
Ohio forecast zone
Coordinates
38.950, -84.965 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Switzerland

When
March 6, 12:00 PM EST to March 7, 9:00 AM EST
Where
Switzerland forecast zone
Coordinates
38.826, -85.037 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Ice Storm
Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.

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: 5548979, 5548980, 5548981, 5548982, 5548983, 5548984, 5548985, 5548986.