A massive intrusion of arctic air brought near record cold to the Rockies and the northern Plains by December 5th. Late on the 5th, strong southwesterly flow aloft brought ample moisture along the leading edge of this arctic airmass, which, by now extended from central Texas through Indiana.
Every event with a place to put it; 10 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 LMK wrote it up.
A massive intrusion of arctic air brought near record cold to the Rockies and the northern Plains by December 5th. Late on the 5th, strong southwesterly flow aloft brought ample moisture along the leading edge of this arctic airmass, which, by now extended from central Texas through Indiana. Widespread mixed wintry precipitation developed all along the boundary, aided by upper level support from the right entrance region of a strong jet. Across southern Indiana, freezing rain early on the 6th quickly turned into sleet and heavy snow by late morning. Heavy snow continued through the late afternoon hours, depositing from 4 to 8 inches on top of a thin icy mix from earlier in the 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 Louisville, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 6, 4:59 AM EST, 1 minute earlier.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
10 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Nine inches of snow - the highest storm total across southern Indiana - fell near Portersville in Dubois County.
Local media reported a total of 6 inches of snow in Madison, which lies along the Ohio River.
A spotter reported 4 inches of snow in Leavenworth.
A spotter measured 7.5 inches of snow near Hardinsburg.
Snow accumulations ranged from near 6 inches in Memphis to around 4 inches across the southern part of the county, directly across the Ohio River from Louisville.
Louisville media reported 3.5 inches of snow near New Albany. Snow totals were higher across the northwestern portion of the county.
Four and one half inches of snow was measured in Tell City, which lies along the Ohio River.
The media reported 5 inches of snow in Scottsburg.
Several snow measurements ranging between 3 and 4 inches were reported across northern Harrison County.
Spotters reported snowfall amounts varying from 4 to 6 inches of snow across Washington County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, December 2013
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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 479353, 479354, 479357, 479358, 479355, 479359, 479360, 479361, 479362, 479363.