Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Indiana, January 12 to 13, 2012

Name: Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Indiana, January 12 to 13, 2012
Start: 2012-01-12T13:00
End: 2012-01-13T21:00
Location: Indiana

January 12 to 13, 2012 · NWS IWX · 15 events in 15 counties and zones

Snow and blowing snow impacted much of northern Indiana late January 12th into January 13th as a low pressure system deepened northward towards Lake Huron. System snow transitioned to heavy lake effect snow on January 13th with total snow accumulations generally ranging between 4 and 10 inches.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 12 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: 3
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 15

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 Jan 12, 4:34 AM EST, 8 hours 26 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 12, 4:34 AM EST, 8 hours 26 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
434 AM EST THU JAN 12 2012

.SHORT TERM...
LIGHT RAIN LINGERS ACRS FAR NE ZONES THIS MORNING ON BACKSIDE OF
SRN STREAM IMPULSE LIFTING OUT QUICKLY OVR VA WHILE UPSTREAM NRN
STREAM SW WAS DEEPENING ACRS NE KS. REGIONAL COMPOSITE SHOWING
RAPIDLY EXPANDING POST ARCTIC FNTL BAND OF SNOW FM NRN AR INTO WRN
WI.

00Z MODEL GUIDANCE IN VRY GOOD LG SCALE AGREEMENT THROUGH THE PD AND
BASICALLY ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER ALOFT. HWVR STARK DETAILS DIFFS
EXIST BTWN HIGHRES AND SPECTRAL SOLUTIONS W/MORNING DETAIL PREFERENCE
HEDGED TWD HIGHRES SOLUTIONS ESP IN CONTEXT OF BTR DEFINED LAKE
AGGREGATE TROUGHING THAT DVLPS TONIGHT AND FRI. UPSTREAM CYCLONE
CLOSES OFF THIS AFTN OVR MO BFR SIGNIFICANTLY DEEPENING ALOFT INTO
SW PA FRI MORNING W/CONCURRENT SFC REFLECTION DEEPENING AS IT
LIFTS INTO SE MI. WHILE PD OF MIXED PCPN LOOKED PLAUSIBLE YDA
W/PROGGED DELAY OF UNDERCUTTING CAA WING...00Z GUIDANCE ACRS THE
BOARD FASTER W/ARRIVAL AND NOTE UPSTREAM TEMPS INTO CNTRL IL
ALREADY INTO THE UPR 20S PER SFC REFLECTION SITTING WEST OF KCLE THIS
HOUR. THUS WILL SPEED UP CHG OVER THIS AFTN.

PRIMARY ATTN THEN FOCUSED ON TONIGHT/FRIDAY PERIODS. DEEPENING
CYCLONE ALOFT TIMED W/INTENSIFYING JET STREAK ROUNDING BASE OF
UPSTREAM TROUGH TDA WILL DRIVE DEEP SATURATED ASCENT UNDERNEATH
COUPLING JET CIRC AND EVIDENT W/INCRSG RTNS UPSTREAM. FVRBL NON-DVRG LVL
WITHIN DEEP DENDRITIC ZONE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY WRAPPING PLUME OF
STG MSTR FLUX OFF LK MI WILL YIELD A 6-12 HR PD OF INTENSE LK
ENHANCED SNOW. INTERESTING DUAL POLE LK BAND DVLPMNT SEEN IN ARW
ANALOGOUS W/PRIOR OBSVD DEEP SFC CYCLONES OVR SE MI AND PER
ABNORMALLY WARM WATER FOR TIME OF YEAR RELIED UPON IN CONSTRUCTING
BLENDED HIGHER DETAILED QPF/SNOW GRIDS. THIS IS ESP SO IN CONTEXT
OF INCREASING LAKE/LAND THERMAL TROUGHING AND WHICH IS TYPICALLY
HANDLED POORLY IN COARSER SPECTRAL GUIDANCE. THUS WILL UPGRADE
ENTIRE WATCH AREA TO A WARNING AND TIER W/AN ADVISORY AROUND THIS.
WILL LEAVE OUT NW OH GIVEN RELUCTANCE OF ERN NEIGHBORS ALG W/LT
AFTN TIMING OF SNOW ARRIVAL ALTHOUGH FULLY XPC ONE TO COME OUT BY
THIS AFTN. END SNOW AMTS HWVR REMAIN CHALLENGING ESP W/PLACEMENT
OF XPCD SIGNIFICANT LK PLUME W/REALISTICALLY LG ERRORS OF 20-30
MILES ENTIRELY PSBL WHICH MAKES SRN BOUND WSW SEGMENT CONSISTING
OF STARKE/MARSHALL/KOSCIUSKO DIFFICULT. HWVR GIVEN THE ABV
RATIONALIZATION FEEL COMFORTABLE W/GRIDDED AMOUNTS THERE ESP NORTH
HALF NORTH OF HIGHWAY 30 WHICH INFER 6-9. HIGHEST ACCUMS SHLD
ENCOMPASS NRN LAPORTE/BERRIEN/WRN CASS/ST JOE/WRN ELKHART TRIANGLE
W/GENERAL 10-14 AND WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED AT ALL TO SEE MAX ACCUM
OF 18 INCHES IN BERRIEN...LAPORTE OR CASS. IN ADDN...HEAVIEST
SNOWFALL TONIGHT/FRI MORNING FALLS W/LL WIND MAX IN PLACE. H925
FLW OF 35-40 KTS THROUGH NRN IN/SW MI POINTS TO A PD OF WHITEOUT
CONDS QUITE LIKELY.

OTHERWISE PRIMARY LK BAND WILL MIGRATE SLOWLY NWD AND BECOME MORE
W-E ORIENTED ON FRI AS SFC CYCLONE LIFTS OUT NE THROUGH ONTARIO.
AGAIN LK AGGREGATE TROUGHING MAY BE UNDERDONE IN MODEL GUIDANCE
WHICH WOULD YIELD A SLWR LIFT OUT ACRS NRN IN AND WILL KEEP W/PRIOR
00Z SAT EXPIRATION BUT CAVEATED W/FACT THAT PRIMARY LK BAND WILL
EXTEND WELL INTO FRI NIGHT W/ADDNL BUT LIGHTER SNOW ACCUMS.

&&

.LONG TERM.../SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

LAKE EFFECT WILL BE WINDING DOWN AT THE START OF THE PERIOD AS MSTR
AND INVERSION HGTS DECREASE AHEAD OF A CLIPPER SYSTEM POISED TO MOVE
THROUGH DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. NAM REMAINS MOST
AGGRESSIVE WITH PRECIP ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FEATURE WITH GFS/ECMWF
MORE SUBDUED. BEST CHANCES WOULD SEEM TO BE ACROSS SW QUARTER TO
HALF OF THE AREA. THAT BEING SAID...GIVEN ANEMIC MSTR PROFILES THINK
CHC POPS STILL WORK SO NO CHANGES. SAT WILL BE THE COLDEST OF THE
UPCOMING WEEK WITH HIGHS ONLY IN THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 20S.

RAPID MODIFICATION OF THERMAL PROFILES WILL TAKE PLACE SUNDAY INTO
MONDAY AS LONGWAVE TROUGH WILL DIG INTO THE WESTERN STATES. HIGHS
COULD CLIMB WELL INTO THE 30S BOTH THESE DAYS...BUT CONCERNS FOR
SNOW PACK ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE AREA IN WAKE OF CURRENT SYSTEM. LOW
TO MID 30S STILL REASONABLE AND HAVE GENERALLY STUCK WITH ALL BLEND
OF MODELS AND PREV FORECAST. LL MSTR WILL BE INCREASING AHEAD OF
THIS TROUGH IN WAA PATTERN THAT WILL BEGIN TO SET THE STAGE FOR WHAT
COULD BE A INTERESTING MID WEEK SYSTEM. GFS/ECMWF RAPIDLY STRENGTH
LOW PRESSURE AS IT MOVES ACROSS THE REGION. THERMAL PROFILES WOULD
SUGGEST ALL RAIN DURING THE DAY MONDAY TRANSITIONING TO A MIX OR ALL
SNOW MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY. ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL FROM BOTH
SYNOPTIC AND LAKE EFFECT PROCESSES COULD BE IN STORE INTO WEDS.

&&

.AVIATION...
MVFR CONDS TO START WILL GO DOWNHILL FROM HERE ESP THIS AFTN TIMED
W/ARRIVAL OF EXPANDING UPSTREAM SNOW SHIELD. COMBO OF RAPIDLY
DEEPENING CYCLONE LIFTING OUT OF THE CNTRL PLAINS WILL BRING A
FAIRLY LONG PD OF STG SFC GUSTS AND SNOW W/LWRG VSBYS. WORST CONDS
XPCD AT KSBN INVOF OF INTENSE LK PLUME WRAPPING INLAND AND
ENHANCING UNDERNEATH DEEPENING MID LVL CIRC TWD MID EVENING HWVR
FULLY XPCD MOD SNOW TO DVLP BY 00Z AS INDICATED IN 06Z ISSUANCE
AND PRIMARILY LIFR CONDS XPCD AFT THAT INTO FRI MORNING W/HVY SNOW.
PRIMARY DIFFICULTY IS DURATION OF HVY LK EFFECT FRI AND WILL
ADDRESS W/12Z ISSUANCE. KFWA WILL SEE PD OF SIG SNOW TONIGHT YET
SHLD ESCAPE INTENSE LK BAND TOMORROW. HWVR PD OF LIFR CONDS XPCD
OVERNIGHT IN MOD SNOW.

&&

.IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IN...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 4 PM EST /3 PM CST/ THIS AFTERNOON TO
     7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ FRIDAY FOR INZ003>006-008-012-014-016.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM EST
     FRIDAY FOR INZ007-009.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 PM EST
     FRIDAY FOR INZ013-015-017-018-020-022>027-032>034.

MI...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM EST FRIDAY
     FOR MIZ077>080.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM EST
     FRIDAY FOR MIZ081.

OH...NONE.
LM...GALE WARNING FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM EST FRIDAY FOR
     LMZ043-046.

&&

SHORT TERM...T
LONG TERM...FISHER
AVIATION...T

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 12, 11:47 AM EST, 1 hour 13 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
1147 AM EST THU JAN 12 2012

INZ003>006-008-012-014-016-MIZ077>080-131700-
LA PORTE-ST. JOSEPH IN-ELKHART-LAGRANGE-NOBLE-STARKE-MARSHALL-
KOSCIUSKO-BERRIEN-CASS MI-ST. JOSEPH MI-BRANCH-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MICHIGAN CITY...LA PORTE...SOUTH BEND...
MISHAWAKA...ELKHART...GOSHEN...LAGRANGE...TOPEKA...KENDALLVILLE...
LIGONIER...KNOX...NORTH JUDSON...PLYMOUTH...BREMEN...WARSAW...
WINONA LAKE...NILES...BENTON HARBOR...ST. JOSEPH...BUCHANAN...
DOWAGIAC...CASSOPOLIS...STURGIS...THREE RIVERS...COLDWATER
1147 AM EST THU JAN 12 2012 /1047 AM CST THU JAN 12 2012/

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

...WINTER STORM WARNING LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT...

LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS...
USHERING IN BLUSTERY CONDITIONS WITH MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED IN MANY AREAS. FOR MORE SPECIFIC DETAILS AND
AMOUNTS...MONITOR THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER PRODUCTS FROM THE
NATIONAL WEATHER OFFICE IN NORTHERN INDIANA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

...WINTER STORM WARNING INTO FRIDAY AFTERNOON...

LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE WARNING
AREA...ESPECIALLY NORTH OF ROUTE 6 INTO FRIDAY NIGHT. FOR MORE
SPECIFIC DETAILS AND AMOUNTS...MONITOR THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER
PRODUCTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER OFFICE IN NORTHERN INDIANA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SNOW AND ROAD CONDITION REPORTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED THROUGH INTO
FRIDAY NIGHT.

&&

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

INZ007-009-013-015-017-018-020-022>027-032>034-MIZ081-131700-
STEUBEN-DE KALB-PULASKI-FULTON IN-WHITLEY-ALLEN IN-WHITE-CASS IN-
MIAMI-WABASH-HUNTINGTON-WELLS-ADAMS-GRANT-BLACKFORD-JAY-HILLSDALE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ANGOLA...AUBURN...GARRETT...WINAMAC...
FRANCESVILLE...ROCHESTER...COLUMBIA CITY...SOUTH WHITLEY...
FORT WAYNE...MONTICELLO...BROOKSTON...LOGANSPORT...PERU...WABASH...
NORTH MANCHESTER...HUNTINGTON...BLUFFTON...OSSIAN...DECATUR...
BERNE...MARION...HARTFORD CITY...MONTPELIER...PORTLAND...HILLSDALE
1147 AM EST THU JAN 12 2012

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT...

LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS...
USHERING IN BLUSTERY CONDITIONS WITH LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED IN MANY AREAS. FOR MORE SPECIFIC DETAILS
AND AMOUNTS...MONITOR THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER PRODUCTS FROM THE
NATIONAL WEATHER OFFICE IN NORTHERN INDIANA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY INTO FRIDAY AFTERNOON...

SNOWSHOWERS WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH ON FRIDAY WITH SOME LIGHT
ACCUMULATIONS POSSIBLE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SNOW AND ROAD CONDITION REPORTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED THROUGH INTO
FRIDAY NIGHT.

&&

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

OHZ001-002-004-005-015-016-024-025-131700-
WILLIAMS-FULTON OH-DEFIANCE-HENRY-PAULDING-PUTNAM-VAN WERT-ALLEN OH-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BRYAN...MONTPELIER...WAUSEON...ARCHBOLD...
DEFIANCE...NAPOLEON...PAULDING...ANTWERP...OTTAWA...PANDORA...
VAN WERT...DELPHOS...LIMA
1147 AM EST THU JAN 12 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST OHIO.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LATE TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING.

LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS...
USHERING IN BLUSTERY CONDITIONS WITH LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED IN MANY AREAS. FOR MORE SPECIFIC DETAILS
AND AMOUNTS...MONITOR THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER PRODUCTS FROM THE
NATIONAL WEATHER OFFICE IN NORTHERN INDIANA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

SNOW WILL TAPER OFF FRIDAY WITH SOME ADDITIONAL LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS
POSSIBLE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SNOW AND ROAD CONDITION REPORTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED THROUGH INTO
FRIDAY NIGHT.

&&

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

LMZ043-046-131700-
NEW BUFFALO MI TO ST JOSEPH MI-MICHIGAN CITY IN TO NEW BUFFALO MI-
1147 AM EST THU JAN 12 2012

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

A GALE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR WIND GUSTS OVER 35 KNOTS STARTING
THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUING INTO TONIGHT. SNOW SQUALLS WILL
DEVELOP TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

GALE FORCE WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY...SLOWLY DIMINISHING
FRIDAY NIGHT. SNOW SQUALLS AND FREEZING SPRAY CAN BE EXPECTED INTO
FRIDAY NIGHT.

&&

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

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 winter weather, 6 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, White

When: January 12, 1:00 PM EST to January 13, 8:00 AM EST
Where: White forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 40.750, -86.865 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow developed during the afternoon hours of January 12th and continued into early January 13th. Total snow amounts across the county generally ranged between 2 and 4 inches. Sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts to 30 mph, led to considerable blowing and drifting snow. There were reports of slide-offs and accidents across the region, along with some school delays.

Winter Weather, Pulaski

When: January 12, 1:00 PM EST to January 13, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Pulaski forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 41.042, -86.699 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow developed during the afternoon hours of January 12th and continued into early January 13th. Total snow amounts across the county generally ranged between 3 and 5 inches. Sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts to 30 mph, led to considerable blowing and drifting snow. There were reports of slide-offs and accidents across the region, along with some school delays.

Winter Weather, Fulton

When: January 12, 2:00 PM EST to January 13, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Fulton forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 41.047, -86.264 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow developed during the afternoon hours of January 12th and continued into early January 13th. Total snow amounts across the county generally ranged between 2 and 5 inches. Sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts to 30 mph, led to considerable blowing and drifting snow. There were reports of slide-offs and accidents across the region, along with some school delays.

Winter Storm, Starke

When: January 12, 4:00 PM EST to January 13, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Starke forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.281, -86.648 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow, moderate to heavy at times, developed during the late afternoon hours of January 12th and continued through most of January 13th. Total snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 4 and 7 inches. There was a report of 6 inches of total snow accumulation at North Judson. Sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts to 30 mph, led to considerable blowing and drifting snow. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region.

Winter Weather, Kosciusko

When: January 12, 4:00 PM EST to January 13, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Kosciusko forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snow developed during the afternoon hours of January 12th and continued into the first part of January 13th. Total snow amounts across the county generally ranged between 2 and 4 inches. Sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts to 30 mph, led to considerable blowing and drifting snow. There were reports of slide-offs and accidents across the region, along with some school delays.

Winter Weather, Whitley

When: January 12, 4:00 PM EST to January 13, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Whitley forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.139, -85.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Allen

When: January 12, 4:00 PM EST to January 13, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Allen forecast zone
Deaths: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 41.091, -85.067 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow developed during the afternoon hours of January 12th and continued into the first part of January 13th. Total snow amounts across the county generally ranged between 2 and 5 inches. Sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts to 30 mph, led to considerable blowing and drifting snow. There were reports of slide-offs and accidents across the region, along with some school delays.

Winter Weather, Huntington

When: January 12, 4:00 PM EST to January 13, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Huntington forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 40.829, -85.488 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Adams

When: January 12, 4:00 PM EST to January 13, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Adams forecast zone
Deaths: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.746, -84.937 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow developed during the afternoon hours of January 12th and continued into the first part of January 13th. Total snow amounts across the county were generally near 2 inches. Sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts to 30 mph, led to considerable blowing and drifting snow. There were reports of slide-offs and accidents across the region, along with some school delays.

Winter Weather, Wells

When: January 12, 4:00 PM EST to January 13, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Wells forecast zone
Deaths: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.729, -85.221 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, La Porte

When: January 12, 4:00 PM CST to January 13, 9:00 PM CST
Where: La Porte forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Snow, moderate to heavy at times, developed during the late afternoon hours of January 12th and continued through most of January 13th. Total snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 3 and 8 inches, with the heaviest snow being observed across the far northeast corner of La Porte County. Sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts to 30 mph, led to considerable blowing and drifting snow. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region.

Winter Storm, St. Joseph

When: January 12, 5:00 PM EST to January 13, 9:00 PM EST
Where: St. Joseph forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Snow, moderate to heavy at times, developed during the late afternoon hours of January 12th and continued through most of January 13th. Total snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 5 and 10 inches, with the heaviest snow being observed across the northern half of the county. South Bend reported 9.3 inches of total snow accumulation. Sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts to 30 mph, led to considerable blowing and drifting snow. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region.

Winter Storm, Marshall

When: January 12, 5:00 PM EST to January 13, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Marshall forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 41.325, -86.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow, moderate to heavy at times, developed during the late afternoon hours of January 12th and continued through most of January 13th. Total snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 3 and 7 inches, with the heaviest amounts estimated across northwest Marshall County based on surrounding reports. Sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts to 30 mph, led to considerable blowing and drifting snow. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region.

Winter Storm, Elkhart

When: January 12, 5:00 PM EST to January 13, 9:00 PM EST
Where: Elkhart forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 41.597, -85.859 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow, moderate to heavy at times, developed during the late afternoon hours of January 12th and continued through most of January 13th. Total snow accumulations ranged between 2 and 4 inches across southeast Elkhart County, to as much as 6-8 inches in far northwest Elkhart County based on surrounding observations. Sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts to 30 mph, led to considerable blowing and drifting snow. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region.

Winter Storm, Lagrange

When: January 12, 5:00 PM EST to January 13, 9:00 PM EST
Where: Lagrange forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 41.643, -85.426 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow, moderate to heavy at times, developed during the late afternoon hours of January 12th and continued through most of January 13th. Total snow accumulations generally ranged between 3 and 6 inches, with the heaviest amounts across northern portions of the county based on surrounding reports. Sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts to 30 mph, led to considerable blowing and drifting snow. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Sex	Where	Kind
Winter Weather, Allen	2012-01-12	Male	Outside/Open Areas	Indirect
Winter Weather, Adams	2012-01-12	Male	Outside/Open Areas	Indirect
Winter Weather, Wells	2012-01-12	Male	Outside/Open Areas	Indirect

What these are

Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
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

Every storm in Indiana in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history Warnings in Indiana, January 2012

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: 354439, 354440, 354441, 354435, 354442, 354443, 354444, 354445, 356278, 356279, 354394, 354395, 354436, 354437, 354438.