Winter Storm, Benton
- When
- December 11, 6:00 AM EST to December 12, 5:00 AM EST
- Where
- Benton forecast zone
- Reported by
- OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
- Coordinates
- 40.606, -87.311 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
An intense winter storm, which developed in the Texas Panhandle, moved northeast across southern Illinois and northeast Indiana on December 11 and 12, causing heavy snow and ice over northwest Indiana. Significant ice accumulations occurred due to sleet and freezing rain in southern Newton, southern Jasper and Benton counties before changing to snow.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS LOT wrote it up.
An intense winter storm, which developed in the Texas Panhandle, moved northeast across southern Illinois and northeast Indiana on December 11 and 12, causing heavy snow and ice over northwest Indiana. Significant ice accumulations occurred due to sleet and freezing rain in southern Newton, southern Jasper and Benton counties before changing to snow. The ice storm knocked out power. Mainly snow fell in northern Newton and northern Jasper Counties. Snow totals included 6.8 inches at Wheatfield and 5.5 inches at Lake Village. Winds gusted to 25 to near 35 mph during the late afternoon and evening causing considerable blowing and drifting of snow. No deaths were directly related to this storm system.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, December 2000
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: 5166088, 5166089, 5166090.