Ice Storm in Indiana, December 18 to 19, 2008

Name: Ice Storm in Indiana, December 18 to 19, 2008
Start: 2008-12-18T23:00
End: 2008-12-19T12:00
Location: Indiana

December 18 to 19, 2008 · NWS IWX · 24 events in 24 counties and zones

Significant ice accumulations and light snow/sleet amounts affected the region as a quick moving area of low pressure tracked eastward through central portions of Indiana and Ohio on late December 18th into the first half of December 19th. Precipitation started out as a brief period of snow and sleet, with accumulations of a trace to 2 inches.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 21 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 24

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 IWX wrote it up.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Northern Indiana wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 18, 10:48 PM EST, 12 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 18, 10:48 PM EST, 12 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
1048 PM EST THU DEC 18 2008

.UPDATE...
OVERALL FCST STILL LOOKS ON TRACK BUT A COUPLE OF ADJUSTMENTS MADE
LATE THIS EVE. HEAVY PRECIP DVLPG UPSTREAM AS EXPECTED AHEAD OF
LOW OVER WRN KS. CONCERNED WITH SUCH HIGH PRECIP RATES THAT SERN
PORTION OF CWA WILL ACCUMULATE 1/4 OF ICE BEFORE TEMPS WARM UP
ABOVE FREEZING FRIDAY MORNING...THUS UPGRADED THIS AREA TO AN ICE
STORM WARNING. LATEST RUC AND 00Z NAM ALSO A LITTLE COLDER WITH
AIRMASS OVER THE AREA AND CONTG WITH HIGH QPF OVER 1 OVER MUCH OF
THE AREA OVERNIGHT AND EARLY FRIDAY. BUMPED UP ICE ACCUMULATION
AMOUNTS ACROSS CENTRAL PORTION OF CWA WHERE HEAVIEST ICE
ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO AROUND 1/2. OTRWS NO SGFNT CHANGES
ATTM.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 838 PM EST THU DEC 18 2008/

UPDATE...
MINOR CHANGES MADE ON ZFP/GRID UPDATE. RADIATIONAL COOLING ALLOWED
FOR A TEMP DROP ACROSS THE CWA THIS EVE...ESPECIALLY NRN PORTIONS.
LOWERED MINS SEVERAL DEGS...BUT STILL EXPECTING RISING TEMPS LATE
TONIGHT AS STRONG WAA OVERSPREADS THE AREA AHD OF LOW MOVG EAST
ACROSS THE PLAINS. PRECIP DVLPG AHD OF THIS SYSTEM SHOULD SPREAD
INTO SWRN PORTIONS OF CWA BTWN 03-06Z. EVE SOUNDINGS AND TAMDAR
OUT OF FWA SUGGEST WHEN PRECIP ARRIVES IT WILL BE MAINLY FREEZING
RAIN/SLEET ACROSS SOUTHERN PORTION OF CWA TRANSITIONING TO MOSTLY
SNOW ACROSS THE FAR NORTH. WAA OVERNIGHT AND EARLY FRI SHOULD
CAUSE THE PTYPE TRANSITION LINE TO SHIFT SLOWLY NORTH. TSTMS OVER
THE PLAINS ARE A CONCERN BUT 18Z NAM SUGGESTED BEST ELEVATED
INSTABILITY OVER MO ATTM WOULD MOVE ACROSS CENTRAL INDIANA
OVERNIGHT WHILE POCKET OF STEEP MID LEVEL AHEAD OF UPR SHRTWV OVER
KS/NEB ATTM SHOULD MOVE ACROSS THE AREA FRI MORNING...SO FOR NOW
HELD OFF ON ADDING TO FCST BUT CONTG TO MONITOR THIS POTENTIAL.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 636 PM EST THU DEC 18 2008/

AVIATION...
MVFR STRATUS DECK OVER CENTRAL INDIANA BRIEFLY CLEARED OUT OF FWA
THIS AFTN BUT HAS MOVED BACK IN THIS EVE. EXPECT THESE LOW CLOUDS
WILL REMAIN TRAPPED BENEATH INVERSION AND PERSIST THROUGH THE EVE.
LARGE AREA OF PRECIP ASSOCIATED WITH LOW MOVG INTO THE PLAINS
EXTENDED FM NEB-SRN INDIANA ATTM AND WILL LIFT SLOWLY
NORTH...EXPAND...AND INTENSIFY TONIGHT AS LOW OVER ERN CO MOVES
EAST AND STRENGTHENS. MIX OF SNOW...SLEET...AND FREEZING RAIN
SHOULD MOVE INTO THE TERMINALS AROUND 05-06Z...WITH MORE
SNOW/SLEET AT SBN AND MORE FREEZING RAIN EXPECTED AT FWA. IFR
CONDITIONS SHOULD PREVAIL DURING THE PRECIP WHICH SHOULD TAPER OFF
FRI MORNING AS THE STRONG FORCING AHD OF THE LOW MOVES EAST OF THE
AREA. SOME LIGHT SNOW/DRIZZLE/FREEZING DRIZZLE EXPECTED IN THE
WAKE OF THE LOW ALONG WITH CONTD LOW CIGS FRI AFTN.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 426 PM EST THU DEC 18 2008/

SHORT TERM...

TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...

SIGNIFICANT ICE AND SNOW ACCUMULATIONS STILL EXPECTED...

LATEST MODEL TRENDS HAVE NOT CHANGED MUCH FROM PREVIOUS RUNS BUT
STRENGTH OF FORCING AND RESULTANT QPF VALUES HAVE COME DOWN A LITTLE
MORE...WHICH WE EXPECTED. STRENGTH OF THIS SYSTEM LOOKS TO BE
IMPRESSIVE BUT SPEED AND LATER ARRIVAL TIME POSES SOME CONCERN FOR
TOTAL AMOUNTS. GENERALLY RELYING ON BLEND OF NAM12...SREF...AND SPC
4KM WRF-NMM. GFS GENERALLY CLOSE TO NAM12 AND ALSO USED FOR
CONFIDENCE FACTOR WITH THE HIGHER RESOLUTION MODELS.

UPPER LOW OVER SOUTHWEST CONUS THIS AFTERNOON WILL LIFT QUICKLY OUT
OF FOUR CORNERS REGION AND TOWARD THE OHIO VALLEY AND GREAT LAKES
TONIGHT. WATER VAPOR SHOWING THIS FEATURE WELL WITH PACIFIC TROPICAL
MOISTURE PLUME ORIGINATING FROM NEAR 10N AND 120W STREAMING AHEAD OF
THIS WAVE INTO GREAT LAKES ALREADY. IMPRESSIVE PRECIPITABLE WATER
VALUES FOR MID DECEMBER BETWEEN THREE QUARTERS AND ONE INCH EXPECTED
TO ADVECT INTO OUR AREA BY 12Z FRIDAY. STRONG LOW LEVEL JET OF 50 TO
70 KNOTS PROGGED INTO THE REGION AFTER 06Z WITH MASS MOISTURE
CONVERGENCE INTO FORECAST AREA ON NOSE OF THIS JET. THESE FACTORS
WILL COME TOGETHER AND ALLOW RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF PRECIPITATION
THROUGH THE EVENING...SPREADING ACROSS AREA BY LATE EVENING AND
BECOMING HEAVY AFTER MIDNIGHT. MODELS HAVE SLOWED ARRIVAL OF PCPN BY
A FEW HOURS FROM PREVIOUS RUNS BUT STILL INDICATING A RAPIDLY
DEVELOPING HEAVY PRECIPITATION EVENT IN A SHORT DURATION.

SURFACE LOW WILL PASS BY JUST TO OUR SOUTH ACROSS CENTRAL TO NORTH
CENTRAL INDIANA. WARM NOSE ALOFT TO SPREAD NORTH WHILE SURFACE
TEMPERATURES OVER SNOWPACK REMAIN IN MID TO UPPER 20S. CLOSER TO LOW
TRACK ACROSS OUR SOUTHERN TIER OF COUNTIES...LENGTH AND AMOUNT OF
ICING ARE A CONCERN AND MARGINAL FOR WARNING DEPENDING ON HOW LONG
IT TAKES SURFACE TEMPERATURES TO RISE ABOVE FREEZING. AFTER
COLLABORATION AND LONG DISCUSSIONS HAVE DECIDED TO INCLUDE FAR
SOUTHWEST AREA INTO ICE STORM WARNING WHERE PCPN ONSET WILL BEGIN.
WENT WITH A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY SOUTHEAST...IN LINE WITH CLE AND
ILN...WHERE PCPN WILL COME IN LATER AND TEMPERATURES MAY CLIMB ABOVE
FREEZING QUICK ENOUGH TO ALLOW LESS ICE ACCUMULATION. WILL BE CLOSE
AND THIS AREA MAY NEED AN UPGRADE DEPENDING ON HOW THESE FACTORS
PLAY OUT.

FURTHER NORTH ICE STORM WARNING CONTINUES IN CENTRAL AREAS BUT
CONCERNED THERE COULD BE SLEET MIX IN AS WELL. THIS REALLY IS ONLY A
CONCERN FOR HEADLINE TYPE BUT RATHER THAN ADD CONFUSION AND CHANGE
TO WINTER STORM WARNING...WILL CONTINUE THE ICE STORM WARNING. ONE
QUARTER TO ONE HALF INCH ICE ACCUMULATION VERY POSSIBLE WITH
TEMPERATURES HOVERING IN UPPER 20S TO AROUND 30 THROUGH MUCH OF THE
NIGHT. WARM TONGUE RISES TO NEAR 2C BUT BUFKIT SHOWING NEAR SURFACE
COLD WEDGE REMAINING BETWEEN 2KFT AND 3KFT WHICH WOULD BE SUFFICIENT
FOR REFREEZING MELTED DROPS TO SLEET. TRANSITION TO SLEET THEN SNOW
FURTHER NORTH WITH MAINLY SNOW AND SOME SLEET IN EXTREME NORTHERN
AREAS OF OUR MICHIGAN COUNTIES. ACCUMULATIONS WILL HAVE A STRONG
GRADIENT WITH 6 TO 8 INCHES FROM NEAR THE INDIANA TOLL ROAD NORTH
AND LESSER SNOW ACCUMS AND MORE SLEET AND ICE SOUTH. STILL THINK
BEST LINE FOR HEAVY ICING WILL BE IN VICINITY OF HIGHWAY 30
CORRIDOR.

LONG TERM...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...

CONTINUED ACTIVE WEATHER PATTER THROUGH THE EXTENDED WITH WEAK
SYSTEM IMPACTING REGION SAT NIGHT SUN FOLLOWED BY AN INTRUSION OF
COLD AIR AND YET ANOTHER WAVE PRESENTLY TIMED FOR CHRISTMAS EVE.

THURSDAY NIGHT/FRI STORM LEAVES THE VICINITY WITHOUT PULLING IN
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF COLD AIR POTENTIALLY SETTING THE STAGE FOR
PTYPE ISSUES ONCE MORE OVER THE WEEKEND AS LOW/INVERTED TROF OVER
NORTHERN PLAINS DROPS SE AND PHASES WITH SFC LOW EJECTING NE THROUGH
OHIO VALLEY.  COMPROMISED BETWEEN OP MODELS AS ECMWF ADVERTISES
DELAYED PHASING MUCH CLOSER TO NE COAST OF CONUS VS GFS/NAM
SOLNS...WHILE SIMILARLY TIMED NAM/GFS DISPLAY MICH DIFFERENT THERMAL
PROFILES AT ONSET OF PRECIP WITH 12Z GFS MUCH COLDER AND IMPLYING
ALL SNOW.  KEPT MIXED PRECIP TYPE ACROSS SOUTHERN THIRD OF CWA
STRETCHED FURTHER NORTH BASED OFF NAM/ECMWF TEMPS.  THIS SYSTEM
DROPPING MUCH LESS QPF VS PREVIOUS SYSTEM BUT DRAGGING IN MUCH
COLDER AIR BEHIND. H85 TEMPS PLUNGE TO -17C WITH GUIDANCE SHOWING HIGH
TEMPS STRUGGLING TO REACH 20 BY MONDAY AFTERNOON. LAKE EFFECT LOOKS
IMMINENT SUNDAY NIGHT/MONDAY WITH COLD LL FLOW OUT OF NW ACROSS LAKE
MICH AND HAVE KEPT GOING POPS.

LAST SYSTEM OF INTEREST IN THE EXTENDED ARRIVES AROUND TUESDAY TIME
FRAME WITH SIGNIFICANT TIMING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SLOWER GFS AND
FASTER ECMWF.  SOMEWHAT COLDER AIR IN PLACE AS THIS SYSTEM ARRIVES
WOULD PRESENT A CHANCE FOR A LIGHT SNOW ACROSS THE CWA.  WHILE VERY
UNCERTAIN THIS FAR OUT THE DUAL CHANCES FOR SNOWFALL ALONG WITH
COLDER AIR THROUGH THE PD DEFINITELY HELP IMPROVE THE ODDS FOR A
WHITE CHRISTMAS.

&&

.IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IN...ICE STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 AM EST FRIDAY FOR INZ013-015-020-
     022>027-032>034.

     ICE STORM WARNING UNTIL 12 PM EST /11 AM CST/ FRIDAY FOR INZ008-
     009-012-014-016>018.

     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 12 PM EST /11 AM CST/ FRIDAY FOR
     INZ003>007.

MI...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 12 PM EST FRIDAY FOR MIZ077>081.

OH...ICE STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 AM EST FRIDAY FOR OHZ016-024-025.

     ICE STORM WARNING UNTIL 12 PM EST FRIDAY FOR OHZ001-002-004-005-
     015.

LM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM EST FRIDAY FOR LMZ043-046.

&&

SHORT TERM...LASHLEY
LONG TERM...LUDINGTON
AVIATION...TAYLOR
UPDATE...TAYLOR

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 18, 5:54 AM EST, 17 hours 6 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
554 AM EST THU DEC 18 2008

INZ003>009-012>018-020-022>027-032>034-MIZ077>081-OHZ001-002-004-005-
015-016-024-025-191100-
LA PORTE-ST. JOSEPH IN-ELKHART-LAGRANGE-STEUBEN-NOBLE-DE KALB-STARKE-
PULASKI-MARSHALL-FULTON IN-KOSCIUSKO-WHITLEY-ALLEN IN-WHITE-CASS IN-
MIAMI-WABASH-HUNTINGTON-WELLS-ADAMS-GRANT-BLACKFORD-JAY-BERRIEN-
CASS MI-ST. JOSEPH MI-BRANCH-HILLSDALE-WILLIAMS-FULTON OH-DEFIANCE-
HENRY-PAULDING-PUTNAM-VAN WERT-ALLEN OH-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MICHIGAN CITY...LA PORTE...SOUTH BEND...
MISHAWAKA...ELKHART...GOSHEN...LAGRANGE...TOPEKA...ANGOLA...
KENDALLVILLE...LIGONIER...AUBURN...GARRETT...KNOX...NORTH JUDSON...
WINAMAC...FRANCESVILLE...PLYMOUTH...BREMEN...ROCHESTER...WARSAW...
WINONA LAKE...COLUMBIA CITY...SOUTH WHITLEY...FORT WAYNE...
MONTICELLO...BROOKSTON...LOGANSPORT...PERU...WABASH...
NORTH MANCHESTER...HUNTINGTON...BLUFFTON...OSSIAN...DECATUR...
BERNE...MARION...HARTFORD CITY...MONTPELIER...PORTLAND...NILES...
BENTON HARBOR...ST. JOSEPH...BUCHANAN...DOWAGIAC...CASSOPOLIS...
STURGIS...THREE RIVERS...COLDWATER...HILLSDALE...BRYAN...WAUSEON...
ARCHBOLD...DEFIANCE...NAPOLEON...PAULDING...ANTWERP...OTTAWA...
PANDORA...VAN WERT...DELPHOS...LIMA
554 AM EST THU DEC 18 2008 /454 AM CST THU DEC 18 2008/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST OHIO...
NORTHERN INDIANA AND SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN.

...MAJOR WINTER STORM WITH HEAVY SNOW AND SIGNIFICANT ICING
EXPECTED TONIGHT AND EARLY FRIDAY...

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

AN INTENSE WINTER STORM WILL RACE NORTHEAST TODAY AND REACH THE
OHIO VALLEY REGION EARLY TONIGHT. TO THE NORTH OF THIS SYSTEM...
THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT ICE AND SNOW ACCUMULATIONS.

PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS EVENING AS A MIX OF
SNOW AND SLEET NORTH OF THE US 30 CORRIDOR...WITH SLEET AND
FREEZING RAIN SOUTH. HEAVY SNOW IS LIKELY LATE TONIGHT OVER FAR
SOUTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN WHERE 4 TO 7 INCHES ARE EXPECTED BY LATE
TONIGHT. HEAVY ICING IS LIKELY FROM THE INDIANA AND MICHIGAN STATE
LINE SOUTH...INCLUDING NORTHWEST OHIO.

UNCERTAINTY REMAINS TO THE EXTENT THAT SURFACE TEMPERATURES WILL
WARM TONIGHT AND FOR THAT REASON...THE WINTER STORM WATCH WILL
CONTINUE ALONG AND SOUTH OF A WINIMAC TO OTTAWA LINE. A 2 OR 3
DEGREE DIFFERENCE AT THE SURFACE WILL DICTATE WHETHER ICE OR RAIN
DEVELOPS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

A SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM WILL BE ONGOING EARLY FRIDAY. THIS
SYSTEM WILL MOVE EAST RAPIDLY...WITH PRECIPITATION DIMINISHING BY
EARLY AFTERNOON. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL WILL BE OVER NORTHERN AREAS
INCLUDING LOWER MICHIGAN WHERE 6 TO 10 INCHES WITH LOCALLY 11
INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED. SOME ADDITIONAL ICE ACCUMULATION IS
LIKELY EARLY FRIDAY...ESPECIALLY OVER FAR NORTHERN INDIANA AND
EXTREME NORTHWEST OHIO. TOTAL ICE ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED TO BE
BETWEEN ONE QUARTER AND A HALF OF AN INCH.

ANOTHER POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT SYSTEM IS FORECAST TO MOVE
THROUGH THE REGION SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY WITH FREEZING
RAIN...SLEET OR SNOW ACROSS THE AREA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SNOW...SLEET AND ICE REPORTS ARE APPRECIATED THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.

&&

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES...OR
CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/IWX

LMZ043-046-191100-
NEW BUFFALO MI TO ST JOSEPH MI-MICHIGAN CITY IN TO NEW BUFFALO MI-
554 AM EST THU DEC 18 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE NEARSHORE WATERS OF
SOUTHEASTERN LAKE MICHIGAN.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

STRONG WINDS ARE POSSIBLE TODAY AND TONIGHT AS LOW PRESSURE MOVES
ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES...ACCOMPANIED BY WINDS AND WAVES HAZARDOUS
TO SMALL CRAFTS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

ANOTHER PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANT WINDS AND WAVE HEIGHTS IS EXPECTED
EARLY NEXT WEEK.

&&

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES...OR
CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/IWX/PROGRAMAREAS/MARINE/INDEX.PHP

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Dec 18, 9:22 PM EST, 1 hour 38 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
922 PM EST THU DEC 18 2008

INZ003-004-012>017-020-022>027-032>034-190415-
ADAMS IN-BLACKFORD IN-CASS IN-FULTON IN-GRANT IN-HUNTINGTON IN-JAY
IN-KOSCIUSKO IN-LA PORTE IN-MARSHALL IN-MIAMI IN-PULASKI IN-ST.
JOSEPH IN-STARKE IN-WABASH IN-WELLS IN-WHITE IN-WHITLEY IN-
922 PM EST THU DEC 18 2008

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...

AT 918 PM EST/818 PM CST/...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR
INDICATED AN AREA OF FREEZING RAIN...ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 151
MILES WEST OF WESTVILLE TO 72 MILES SOUTH OF REDKEY...MOVING EAST AT
45 MPH.

THE FREEZING RAIN WILL REACH THE FOLLOWING CITIES BY 1130 PM EST...
  MONTICELLO...
  LOGANSPORT...
  FAIRMOUNT...
  WINAMAC...PERU AND GAS CITY...
  UPLAND AND MARION...

MOTORISTS SHOULD EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN DRIVING. ROADWAYS
WILL BECOME VERY SLIPPERY FAST LATE THIS EVENING.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

24 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, White

When: December 18, 11:00 PM EST to December 19, 7:00 AM EST
Where: White forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.750, -86.865 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mixed wintry precipitation overspread the area late December 18th and continued through about 07:00 am on December 19th. Precipitation started out as a brief period of snow and sleet before changing over to moderate freezing rain. The area picked up a quarter of an inch or more of ice accumulation, with a report of a quarter of an inch 5 miles west of Chalmers. Utility companies and the local newspaper reported over 6,000 power outages across White County due to ice accumulation on trees and power lines. There were numerous reports of slide-offs and accidents across the region.

Ice Storm, Pulaski

When: December 18, 11:00 PM EST to December 19, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Pulaski forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.042, -86.699 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Cass

When: December 18, 11:00 PM EST to December 19, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Cass forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 40.762, -86.346 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mixed wintry precipitation overspread the area late December 18th and continued through about 07:00 am on December 19th. Precipitation started out as a brief period of snow and sleet before changing over to moderate freezing rain. The area picked up a quarter of an inch or more of ice accumulation. The EOC was without power with 3 substations down in and around Logansport. Also, utility companies reported power outages due to ice accumulation on trees and power lines.

Ice Storm, Fulton

When: December 18, 11:00 PM EST to December 19, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Fulton forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.047, -86.264 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mixed wintry precipitation overspread the area late December 18th and continued through about 07:00 am on December 19th. Precipitation started out as a brief period of snow and sleet before changing over to moderate freezing rain. The area picked up a quarter of an inch or more of ice accumulation, with a spotter reporting a little over a quarter of an inch of ice accretion in Rochester. Utility companies reported numerous power outages across the county due to ice accumulation on trees and power lines.

Ice Storm, Miami

When: December 18, 11:00 PM EST to December 19, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Miami forecast zone
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 40.770, -86.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mixed wintry precipitation overspread the area late December 18th and continued through about 07:00 am on December 19th. Precipitation started out as a brief period of snow and sleet before changing over to moderate freezing rain. The area picked up a quarter of an inch or more of ice accumulation. Utility companies reported near 2,000 power outages across the county due to ice accumulation on trees and power lines.

Ice Storm, Grant

When: December 18, 11:00 PM EST to December 19, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Grant forecast zone
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.516, -85.655 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mixed wintry precipitation overspread the area late December 18th and continued through about 07:00 am on December 19th. Precipitation started out as a brief period of snow and sleet before changing over to moderate freezing rain. The area picked up a quarter of an inch or more of ice accumulation. Utility companies reported numerous power outages across the county due to ice accumulation on trees and power lines. There were over 6000 customers without power in Marion around 11:00 am December 19th according to a local newspaper article.

Ice Storm, Huntington

When: December 18, 11:00 PM EST to December 19, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Huntington forecast zone
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.829, -85.488 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mixed wintry precipitation overspread the area late December 18th and continued through about 09:00 am on December 19th. Precipitation started out as a brief period of snow and sleet before changing over to moderate freezing rain. The area picked up a quarter of an inch or more of ice accumulation. Utility companies reported numerous power outages across the county due to ice accumulation on trees and power lines. There were over 2000 customers without power at one point in Huntington, according to a local newspaper article.

Ice Storm, Wells

When: December 18, 11:00 PM EST to December 19, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Wells forecast zone
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.729, -85.221 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Blackford

When: December 18, 11:00 PM EST to December 19, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Blackford forecast zone
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 40.474, -85.325 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mixed wintry precipitation overspread the area late December 18th and continued through about 07:00 am on December 19th. Precipitation started out as a brief period of snow and sleet before changing over to moderate freezing rain. The area picked up a quarter of an inch or more of ice accumulation. AEP reported around 2000 customers without power due to signficant ice accumulation on power lines and trees.

Ice Storm, Wabash

When: December 18, 11:00 PM EST to December 19, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Wabash forecast zone
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.846, -85.794 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mixed wintry precipitation overspread the area late December 18th and continued through about 09:00 am on December 19th. Precipitation started out as a brief period of snow and sleet before changing over to moderate freezing rain. The area picked up a quarter of an inch or more of ice accumulation. Utility companies reported numerous power outages across the county due to ice accumulation on trees and power lines. There were over 5000 customers without power at one point in Wabash, according to a local newspaper article.

Ice Storm, Jay

When: December 18, 11:00 PM EST to December 19, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Jay forecast zone
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 40.438, -85.006 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Adams

When: December 18, 11:00 PM EST to December 19, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Adams forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.746, -84.937 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mixed wintry precipitation overspread the area late December 18th and continued through about 09:00 am on December 19th. Precipitation started out as a brief period of snow and sleet before changing over to moderate freezing rain. The area picked up a quarter of an inch or more of ice accumulation. A trained spotter reported local power outages in the Berne area due to heavy icing on trees and power lines.

Ice Storm, Starke

When: December 18, 11:30 PM EST to December 19, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Starke forecast zone
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 41.281, -86.648 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mixed wintry precipitation overspread the area late December 18th and continued through about noon on December 19th. Precipitation started out as a brief period of snow and sleet before changing over to moderate freezing rain. Snow and sleet accumulations were generally near 1 inch. The area also picked up a quarter of an inch or more of ice accumulation. Utility companies reported numerous customers with power outages due to significant ice accumulations on power lines and trees. There were also school closers across the county due to icy roads.

Ice Storm, St. Joseph

When: December 18, 11:30 PM EST to December 19, 12:00 PM EST
Where: St. Joseph forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Mixed wintry precipitation overspread the area late December 18th and continued through about noon on December 19th. Precipitation started out as a brief period of snow and sleet before changing over to moderate freezing rain. Snow and sleet accumulations were generally near 1 inch. Ice accumulations were near a quarter of an inch. There were numerous reports of power outages across the region due to significant ice accumulations on power lines and trees. There were also school closed across the county due to icy roads.

Ice Storm, Elkhart

When: December 18, 11:30 PM EST to December 19, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Elkhart forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 41.597, -85.859 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mixed wintry precipitation overspread the area late December 18th and continued through about noon on December 19th. Precipitation started out as a brief period of snow and sleet before changing over to moderate freezing rain. Snow and sleet accumulations were generally near 1 inch. Ice accumulations were near a quarter of an inch. There were numerous reports of power outages across the region due to significant ice accumulations on power lines and trees. There were also school closers across the county.

Ice Storm, Marshall

When: December 18, 11:30 PM EST to December 19, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Marshall forecast zone
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 41.325, -86.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mixed wintry precipitation overspread the area late December 18th and continued through about noon on December 19th. Precipitation started out as a brief period of snow and sleet before changing over to moderate freezing rain. Snow and sleet accumulations were generally near 1 inch. Ice accumulations were near a quarter of an inch. Utility companies reported numerous power outages due to significant ice accumulations on power lines and trees. Downed power lines and trees closed several roads in the Plymouth area. There were also school closers across the county.

Ice Storm, Kosciusko

When: December 18, 11:30 PM EST to December 19, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Kosciusko forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee

Mixed wintry precipitation overspread the area late December 18th and continued through about noon on December 19th. Precipitation started out as a brief period of snow and sleet before changing over to moderate freezing rain. Snow and sleet accumulations were generally near 1 inch. Ice accumulations were generally between a quarter and a half an inch. Utility companies reported numerous power outages due to significant ice accumulations on power lines and trees. There were also school closers across the county, with more than 10 accidents or slideoffs reported by the media.

Ice Storm, Whitley

When: December 18, 11:30 PM EST to December 19, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Whitley forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.139, -85.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mixed wintry precipitation overspread the area late December 18th and continued through about noon on December 19th. Precipitation started out as a brief period of snow and sleet before changing over to moderate freezing rain. Snow and sleet accumulations were generally near 1 inch. A trained spotter reported nearly a half an inch of ice accumulation in Columbia City. Utility companies reported numerous power outages across the area due to significant ice accumulations on power lines and trees.

Ice Storm, Noble

When: December 18, 11:30 PM EST to December 19, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Noble forecast zone
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 41.399, -85.417 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mixed wintry precipitation overspread the area late December 18th and continued through about noon on December 19th. Precipitation started out as a brief period of snow and sleet before changing over to moderate freezing rain. Snow and sleet accumulations were generally near 1 inch. Ice accumulations were between a quarter and a half an inch across the area. Utility companies reported numerous power outages across the area due to significant ice accumulations on power lines and trees. Also, icy roads led to several accidents along with school closures.

Ice Storm, Lagrange

When: December 18, 11:30 PM EST to December 19, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Lagrange forecast zone
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 41.643, -85.426 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mixed wintry precipitation overspread the area late December 18th and continued through about noon on December 19th. Precipitation started out as a brief period of snow and sleet before changing over to moderate freezing rain. Snow and sleet accumulations were generally between 1 and 2 inches. Ice accumulations were generally near a quarter of an inch. Utility companies reported numerous power outages across the area due to ice accumulations on power lines and trees.

Ice Storm, Steuben

When: December 18, 11:30 PM EST to December 19, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Steuben forecast zone
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 41.644, -85.001 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mixed wintry precipitation overspread the area late December 18th and continued through about noon on December 19th. Precipitation started out as a brief period of snow and sleet before changing over to moderate freezing rain. Snow and sleet accumulations were generally near 2 inches. Ice accumulations were generally near a quarter of an inch. Utility companies reported a few power outages across the area due to ice accumulations on power lines and trees.

Ice Storm, Allen

When: December 18, 11:30 PM EST to December 19, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Allen forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.091, -85.067 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mixed wintry precipitation overspread the area late December 18th and continued through about noon on December 19th. Precipitation started out as a brief period of snow and sleet before changing over to moderate freezing rain. Snow and sleet accumulations were generally near 1 inch. Ice accumulations ranged between a quarter and half inch. Utility companies reported numerous power outages in the Fort Wayne area due to ice accumulations on power lines and trees. AEP reported over 100,000 customers without power around 10:00 am December 19th. Several accidents and slide-offs were also reported.

Ice Storm, De Kalb

When: December 18, 11:30 PM EST to December 19, 12:00 PM EST
Where: De Kalb forecast zone
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 41.398, -84.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mixed wintry precipitation overspread the area late December 18th and continued through about noon on December 19th. Precipitation started out as a brief period of snow and sleet before changing over to moderate freezing rain. Snow and sleet accumulations were generally near 2 inches. Ice accumulations were generally near a quarter of an inch. Utility companies reported a few power outages across the area due to ice accumulations on power lines and trees.

Ice Storm, La Porte

When: December 18, 11:30 PM CST to December 19, 12:00 PM CST
Where: La Porte forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media

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

Every storm in Indiana in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in Indiana, December 2008

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: 138240, 138241, 138244, 138246, 138247, 138250, 138251, 138252, 138253, 138254, 138271, 138272, 138256, 138260, 138261, 138262, 138263, 138265, 138266, 138267, 138268, 138269, 138270, 138273.