Lake-Effect Snow and Winter Weather in Indiana, November 12, 2013

Name: Lake-Effect Snow and Winter Weather in Indiana, November 12, 2013
Start: 2013-11-12T00:00
End: 2013-11-12T13:00
Location: Indiana

November 12, 2013 · NWS IWX · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

An intense lake effect snow band set up over northwest Indiana during the morning hours of Nov 12th. Localized snowfall amounts as high as 9 inches were reported.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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: 3

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.

An intense lake effect snow band set up over northwest Indiana during the morning hours of Nov 12th. Localized snowfall amounts as high as 9 inches were reported.

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 Nov 11, 7:28 PM EST, 4 hours 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 11, 7:28 PM EST, 4 hours 32 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 11, 9:33 AM EST, 14 hours 27 minutes before

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In the hours before

Local storm report, Nov 11, 7:42 PM EST, 4 hours 18 minutes before

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Local storm report, Nov 11, 11:15 PM EST, 45 minutes before

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Local storm report, Nov 11, 11:33 PM EST, 27 minutes before

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Local storm report, Nov 11, 11:47 PM EST, 13 minutes before

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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 lake-effect snow, 1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Lake-Effect Snow, St. Joseph

When: November 12, 12:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: St. Joseph forecast zone
Reported by: Public

A band of heavy lake effect snow set up over far western St. Joseph County during the morning hours of November 12th. Total snow accumulations ranged from a dusting in central and eastern portions of the county to as much as 8 inches in New Carlisle. The accumulating snow and reduced visibilities with snowfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour at times created hazardous driving conditions just west of South Bend. Accidents and slide-offs were reported across the region.

Winter Weather, Starke

When: November 12, 12:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where: Starke forecast zone
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 41.281, -86.648 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A band of heavy lake effect snow set up over northern Starke County during the morning hours of November 12th. Total snow accumulations ranged between 2 and 6 inches, with a public report of 4.8 inches in West Hamlet. The accumulating snow and reduced visibilities created hazardous driving conditions. Accidents and slide-offs were reported across the region.

Lake-Effect Snow, La Porte

When: November 12, 12:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where: La Porte forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee

A band of heavy lake effect snow set up over La Porte County during the morning hours of November 12th. Snowfall totals generally ranged between 3 and 9 inches across the county, with a report of 7.4 inches 2 miles southwest of La Porte and 9.0 inches at Kingsbury. The accumulating snow and reduced visibilities with snowfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour at times created hazardous driving conditions across the area. Accidents and slide-offs were reported across the region.

What these are

Lake-Effect Snow: Heavy snow in bands downwind of a large lake as cold air crosses warmer water.
Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Indiana in 2013 Every state in 2013 This day in weather history Warnings in Indiana, November 2013

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 478312, 478313, 478311.