Winter Storm in Indiana, January 5 to 6, 2014

Name: Winter Storm in Indiana, January 5 to 6, 2014
Start: 2014-01-05T05:00
End: 2014-01-06T01:00
Location: Indiana

January 5 to 6, 2014 · NWS IND · 30 events in 30 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 30 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: 30

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 IND wrote it up.

A powerful storm system brought heavy snow and near blizzard conditions to much of central Indiana on January 5th, with a mix of rain and snow across southeast sections of the area. After the snow diminished during the evening, arctic air plunged into the area on strong winds. The snow and cold created dangerous travel conditions across much of Indiana and surrounding areas. Sections of interstates were closed down, and travel was restricted to emergency personnel only. Schools were closed for a week across parts of central Indiana.

The jet stream dove south into the southern United States, allowing cold air straight from the Arctic to flow south into the USA. This cold air interacted with plentiful moisture being drawn northward with an area of low pressure at the surface. The result was heavy snow for several hours across the northwest half of central Indiana. Across the southeast part of the area, warmer air moved north and allowed for a period of rain. This cut down on snow amounts. As strong high pressure moved in behind the low pressure, winds increased across the area. Gusts of 30 to 40 mph were common Sunday night, resulting in blowing and drifting of the snow that fell.

Snowfall of 8 to 14 inches was common across areas generally along and north of a Terre Haute to New Castle line. Amounts dropped quickly to the south and east of this line due to warmer air allowing rain to fall for several hours. Areas that received heavy snow saw snow falling at a rate of an inch or more per hour during the height of the storm. Snowfall diminished by late afternoon but lighter snows continued into the evening.

Gusty winds ushering in the colder air brought blowing and drifting snow. Visibility was reduced in blowing snow across many areas through the day of January 6. This resulted in drifts of several feet at some locations. The snow and lowered visibility caused some roads to be shut down across parts of Indiana. Some state highways and U.S. highways were closed. Many counties in Indiana declared travel warnings, meaning that only emergency vehicles were allowed on the roads.

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 Indianapolis, IN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 5, 3:34 AM EST, 1 hour 26 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 5, 3:34 AM EST, 1 hour 26 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
334 AM EST SUN JAN 5 2014

.UPDATE...
THE LONG TERM AND AVIATION SECTIONS HAVE BEEN UPDATED BELOW.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
ISSUED AT 319 AM EST SUN JAN 5 2014

A STORM SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BRING A SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM TO
THE AREA TODAY AND TONIGHT...FOLLOWED BY VERY COLD AIR EARLY NEXT
WEEK IN THE WAKE OF THIS STORM. ADDITIONAL FRONTAL SYSTEM MAY
AFFECT THE AREA AROUND THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK AND OVER NEXT WEEKEND.

&&

.NEAR TERM /TODAY AND TONIGHT/...
ISSUED AT 319 AM EST SUN JAN 5 2014

THINGS SEEM TO BE EVOLVING SLOWER THAN EXPECTED...BUT MODEL DATA
SUGGEST THE MAIN THEME REMAINS THE SAME. MODELS IN RATHER GOOD
AGREEMENT NOW WITH RESPECT TO THE DEVELOPING SURFACE LOW...TRACKING
IT NEAR OF JUST SOUTH OF THE OHIO RIVER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
NOT TOO MUCH GOING ON AT THIS TIME...HOWEVER THE MAIN LIFT FROM THIS
STORM IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN MOVING INTO THE AREA AFTER SUNRISE...SO
EXPECTING PRECIPITATION TO INCREASE IN INTENSITY/COVERAGE BY THAT
TIME. THE STRONGEST LIFT/HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION LOOKS TO PASS OVER
THE AREA FROM ABOUT MIDDAY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS. SOME
LINGERING WARM AIR OVER THE SOUTH/SOUTHEAST ZONES SHOULD RESULT IN
MORE OF A MIX INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS BEFORE THE ATMOSPHERIC COLUMN
COOLS. ELSEWHERE...PRECIPITATION TYPE EXPECTED TO REMAIN SNOW.

MODEL DATA SUGGEST DEFORMATION ZONE WILL STILL BE OVER THE WESTERN
ZONES BY EVENING...SO THINK LIGHTER SNOWFALL WILL CONTINUE OVER THE
AREA THROUGH ABOUT MIDNIGHT BEFORE TAPERING OFF TO SNOW SHOWERS AND
FLURRIES. WINDS EXPECTED TO PICK UP TOWARDS/AFTER SUNSET TONIGHT
WITH GUST TO AROUND 40 MPH POSSIBLE. THIS WILL CAUSE CONSIDERABLE
BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. MAY FLIRT WITH BLIZZARD CRITERIA FOR A
PERIOD THIS EVENING...BUT WITH THE HEAVIER SNOW DIMINISHING BY THAT
TIME...MAY BE HARD TO REACH VISIBILITY CRITERIA. THIS WILL BE
SOMETHING THAT WILL NEED TO BE WATCHED.

GIVEN A SURFACE LOW TRACK ALONG THE OHIO RIVER AND LOCATION OF
DEFORMATION ZONE...STILL APPEARS THE HIGHEST STORM TOTALS WILL BE
LOCATED OVER THE NORTHWEST HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA...WITH LESSER
TOTALS FARTHER SOUTHEAST DUE TO MIXING ISSUES AND BEING LOCATED
FARTHER AWAY FROM THE DEFORMATION ZONE. MODEL GUIDANCE SUGGESTS
POTENTIAL STORM TOTALS FROM AROUND 5 INCHES OVER THE FAR SOUTHEAST
TO ABOUT 10 TO 14 INCHES OVER THE NORTHWEST HALF OF THE AREA.

WILL HOLD ONTO THE WINTER STORM WARNING AS IS FOR NOW...ALTHOUGH IT
DOES APPEAR CONDITIONS WON/T BEGIN TO DETERIORATE UNTIL AFTER
SUNRISE. DUE TO THE SLOWER EVOLUTION OF THE STORM...MAY NEED TO
EXTEND THE WARNING LATER IN TIME AS WELL.

WILL ALSO BE ISSUING A WIND CHILL WARNING STARTING LATE TONIGHT AND
LASTING THROUGH TUESDAY WITH WIND CHILLS EXPECTED TO EXCEED WARNING
CRITERIA THROUGHOUT THOSE TIMES.

EXPECTING TEMPERATURES TO HOLD ABOUT STEADY UNTIL PRECIPITATION
BEGINS...THEN SLOWLY FALL OFF DURING THE AFTERNOON. THE SLOWER
EVOLUTION OF THE STORM SUGGESTS TEMPERATURES PROBABLY WON/T REALLY
START FALLING ON UNTIL AFTER SUNSET. BASED ON LOW LEVEL
THICKNESSES...THE GFS MOS LOWS TONIGHT LOOK TOO COLD. WILL BUMP THEM
UP ABOUT 3-5 DEGREES.

&&

.SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
ISSUED AT 319 AM EST SUN JAN 5 2014

DEEP COLD UPPER LOW OVER THE GREAT LAKES ON MONDAY EXPECTED TO
REMAIN PROGRESSIVE...SO VERY COLD TEMPERATURES SHOULD GRADUALLY
MODERATE DURING THE PERIOD AS HEIGHTS SLOWLY RISE. OTHER THAN SOME
FLURRIES ON MONDAY DUE TO VERY STEEP LOW LEVEL LAPSE RATES...THE
SHORT TERM SHOULD BE DRY AS HIGH PRESSURE MOVES THROUGH.

LOW LEVEL THICKNESS PROGS SUGGEST THE GFS MOS HIGHS AND LOWS MONDAY
AND MONDAY NIGHT LOOK A LITTLE TOO COLD. WILL RAISE THE GUIDANCE
SEVERAL DEGREES IN THOSE PERIODS. HIGHS BY TUESDAY LOOK BETTER...BUT
MAY STILL BE A LITTLE COLD.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
ISSUED AT 334 AM EST SUN JAN 5 2014

ACTIVE PATTERN CONTINUES THROUGH THE PERIOD...WITH YET ANOTHER
CHANCE FOR ACCUMULATING SNOW BEGINNING LATE WEDNESDAY AS AN UPPER
LEVEL WAVE DROPS SOUTHEAST OUT OF THE NORTHERN PLAINS AND
INTERACTING WITH A SURFACE TROUGH AND GULF MOISTURE LIFTING NORTH
INTO THE REGION. THIS FEATURE WILL LIFT SLOWLY THROUGH THE OHIO
VALLEY WITH SNOW LIKELY TO FALL WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY...
POSSIBLY CONTINUING INTO THURSDAY NIGHT. STILL A BIT PREMATURE TO
CONSIDER SPECIFIC ACCUMS AT THIS POINT BUT IT DOES APPEAR THE
POTENTIAL WILL EXIST FOR A FEW INCHES OF SNOW AT THE VERY LEAST.

UPPER LEVEL FLOW WILL TRANSITION FROM QUASI-ZONAL TO A MOIST
SOUTHWEST FLOW BY FRIDAY AS AN UPPER LEVEL LOW DEVELOPS OVER
NORTHERN MEXICO. ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM SET TO DEVELOP AND EXPAND
TOWARDS THE OHIO/TENNESSEE VALLEYS OVER THE WEEKEND AS THE UPPER LOW
EJECTS INTO TEXAS BY SUNDAY. APPEARS ENOUGH WARM AIR WITHIN THE
LOWER LEVELS WILL ADVECT NORTH TO PRESENT A WINTRY PRECIP MIX OR
EVEN A PERIOD WITH RAIN AS THE PREDOMINANT PRECIP TYPE. HIGHS SHOULD
WARM BACK INTO THE 30S TO LOWER 40S BY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY...LIKELY
TO BE A WELCOME CHANGE FROM THE BITTERLY COLD TEMPS TO COME OVER THE
NEXT FEW DAYS.

&&

.AVIATION /DISCUSSION FOR THE 050900Z TAF ISSUANCE/...
ISSUED AT 334 AM EST SUN JAN 5 2014

QUITE A BIT OF DRY AIR REMAINS WITHIN THE BOUNDARY LAYER...AND
THAT HAS LIMITED PRECIP DEVELOPMENT SO FAR THIS MORNING. HAVE
DELAYED ARRIVAL OF SNOW TO THE TERMINALS AS A RESULT...BUT SHORT
RANGE MODEL GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO ADVERTISE THE ARRIVAL OF
STEADIER SNOWFALL INTO THE REGION BETWEEN 10-12Z. MVFR CEILINGS
HAVE ALREADY DEVELOPED AT KBMG AND KHUF...WITH IFR CEILINGS AT
KLAF. EXPECT FURTHER DETERIORATION AS THE SNOWFALL ARRIVES WITHIN
THE NEXT FEW HOURS. ONLY OTHER CHANGE WAS TO INCREASE SNOWFALL
INTENSITY BY LATE MORNING AS THE HEAVIEST SNOWS MOVE INTO THE
REGION AND IMPACT THE TERMINALS.

06Z DISCUSSION FOLLOWS.

CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE QUICKLY AFTER SUN 09Z AS A STORM
SYSTEM BRINGS HEAVY SNOW TO CENTRAL INDIANA. CURRENT RADAR MOSAIC
IS SHOWING SNOWFALL CONSISTENTLY FALLING OVER NORTHERN
ILLINOIS...WHICH SHOULD START AFFECTING KLAF WITHIN THE NEXT FEW
HOURS. TAF SITES WILL QUICKLY PLUMMET TO IFR CATEGORY AFTER SUN
09Z AND EVEN FURTHER TO LIFR CATEGORY BY MID-MORNING. THE HEAVIEST
SNOW WILL FALL FROM SUNRISE THROUGH MID-AFTERNOON DURING WHICH
LIFR WILL BE THE PREVAILING FLIGHT CATEGORY. CONDITIONS WILL NOT
IMPROVE UNTIL SOMEWHERE IN THE MON 00-03Z TIME FRAME. AT THAT
TIME...CEILINGS WILL RETURN TO IFR/MVFR CATEGORY...BUT BLOWING
SNOW COULD STILL KEEP VISIBILITIES IN THE LIFR/IFR RANGE. WINDS
WILL START OUT SOUTHERLY AND THEN BACK TO THE NORTHEAST AND
FINALLY NORTHWEST THROUGH DURATION OF TAF PERIOD. THEY WILL
ESPECIALLY STRENGTHEN OUT OF THE NORTHWEST TOMORROW EVENING WITH
SUSTAINED SPEEDS OF 15 TO 18 KTS AND GUSTS UP TO 28 KTS.

&&

.IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 1 AM EST MONDAY FOR INZ021-028>031-
035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072.

WIND CHILL WARNING FROM 1 AM MONDAY TO 7 PM EST TUESDAY FOR
INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072.

&&

SYNOPSIS...JAS
NEAR TERM...JAS
SHORT TERM...JAS
LONG TERM....RYAN
AVIATION...TDUD/RYAN

VISIT US AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/IND

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND YOUTUBE AT:
WWW.TWITTER.COM/NWSINDIANAPOLIS
WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/NWSINDIANAPOLIS

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 4, 4:51 PM EST, 12 hours 9 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
451 PM EST SAT JAN 4 2014

INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-052200-
CARROLL-WARREN-TIPPECANOE-CLINTON-HOWARD-FOUNTAIN-MONTGOMERY-
BOONE-TIPTON-HAMILTON-MADISON-DELAWARE-RANDOLPH-VERMILLION-PARKE-
PUTNAM-HENDRICKS-MARION-HANCOCK-HENRY-VIGO-CLAY-OWEN-MORGAN-
JOHNSON-SHELBY-RUSH-
451 PM EST SAT JAN 4 2014

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL INDIANA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

OUTLOOK: ACCUMULATING SNOW DEVELOPING LATE TONIGHT.

HAZARDS: UNTREATED ROADS AND OTHER SURFACES MAY BECOME SLICK AND
HAZARDOUS.

TIMING: AFTER 100 AM SUNDAY MORNING.

DISCUSSION: A DEVELOPING STORM SYSTEM WILL BEGIN AFFECTING THE
AREA DURING THE PRE DAWN HOURS OF SUNDAY. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AROUND
ONE INCH ARE POSSIBLE BY SUNRISE SUNDAY. THE FAR SOUTHERN PARTS OF
CENTRAL INDIANA MAY SEE SOME SLEET AS WELL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

OUTLOOK: SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATION OF SNOW IS LIKELY DURING THE DAY
ON SUNDAY. THE SNOW MAY MIX WITH SLEET OVER THE SOUTH AND
SOUTHEAST PARTS OF CENTRAL INDIANA THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING. WIND
GUSTS OF 35 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP BY LATE SUNDAY
AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. DANGEROUSLY COLD TEMPERATURES AND WIND CHILLS
ARE EXPECTED FROM SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY. ADDITIONAL
ACCUMULATING SNOW IS POSSIBLE TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK.

DISCUSSION: A STORM SYSTEM MOVING THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY ON
SUNDAY IS EXPECTED TO BRING 6 TO 12 INCHES OF SNOW TO THE AREA BY
THE TIME THE SNOW DIMINISHES SUNDAY NIGHT. THE LOWEST TOTALS WILL
BE OVER THE SOUTHEAST SECTIONS OF THE AREA WHERE SLEET MAY REDUCE
SNOW TOTALS. STRONG WINDS ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE STORM WILL
RESULT IN CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW LATE SUNDAY
AFTERNOON INTO MONDAY. BITTER COLD AIR EARLY NEXT WEEK MAY RESULT
IN WIND CHILLS IN THE 20 TO 40 BELOW ZERO RANGE FROM SUNDAY NIGHT
INTO TUESDAY.

ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM MAY MOVE INTO THE OHIO VALLEY TOWARDS THE
MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK...RESULTING IN THE POTENTIAL FOR ACCUMULATING
SNOW ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY AS WELL.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS.

&&

MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND
CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/IND (ALL
LOWERCASE)

INZ060>065-067>072-052200-
SULLIVAN-GREENE-MONROE-BROWN-BARTHOLOMEW-DECATUR-KNOX-DAVIESS-
MARTIN-LAWRENCE-JACKSON-JENNINGS-
451 PM EST SAT JAN 4 2014

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL INDIANA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

OUTLOOK: A MIXTURE OF SNOW SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN WILL DEVELOP
         LATE TONIGHT AND CHANGE TO ALL SNOW BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

HAZARDS: UNTREATED ROADS AND OTHER SURFACES MAY BECOME SLICK AND
         HAZARDOUS.

TIMING: AFTER 100 AM SUNDAY MORNING.

DISCUSSION: A DEVELOPING STORM SYSTEM WILL BEGIN AFFECTING THE
AREA DURING THE PRE DAWN HOURS OF SUNDAY. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AROUND
ONE INCH ARE POSSIBLE BY SUNRISE SUNDAY. THE FAR SOUTHERN PARTS OF
CENTRAL INDIANA MAY SEE SOME SLEET AS WELL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

OUTLOOK: SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATION OF SNOW IS LIKELY DURING THE DAY
ON SUNDAY. THE SNOW MAY MIX WITH SLEET OVER THE SOUTH AND
SOUTHEAST PARTS OF CENTRAL INDIANA THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING. WIND
GUSTS OF 35 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP BY LATE SUNDAY
AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. DANGEROUSLY COLD TEMPERATURES AND WIND CHILLS
ARE EXPECTED FROM SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY. ADDITIONAL
ACCUMULATING SNOW IS POSSIBLE TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK.

DISCUSSION: A STORM SYSTEM MOVING THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY ON
SUNDAY IS EXPECTED TO BRING 6 TO 12 INCHES OF SNOW TO THE AREA BY
THE TIME THE SNOW DIMINISHES SUNDAY NIGHT. THE LOWEST TOTALS WILL
BE OVER THE SOUTHEAST SECTIONS OF THE AREA WHERE SLEET MAY REDUCE
SNOW TOTALS. STRONG WINDS ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE STORM WILL
RESULT IN CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW LATE SUNDAY
AFTERNOON INTO MONDAY. BITTER COLD AIR EARLY NEXT WEEK MAY RESULT
IN WIND CHILLS IN THE 20 TO 40 BELOW ZERO RANGE FROM SUNDAY NIGHT
INTO TUESDAY.

ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM MAY MOVE INTO THE OHIO VALLEY TOWARDS THE
MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK...RESULTING IN THE POTENTIAL FOR ACCUMULATING
SNOW ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY AS WELL.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS.

&&

MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND
CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/IND (ALL
LOWERCASE)

PUMA

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

30 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Warren

When: January 5, 5:00 AM EST to January 6, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Warren forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 40.347, -87.353 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An observation of 10 inches of snow was reported from the southeast side of the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Warren County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Fountain

When: January 5, 5:00 AM EST to January 6, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Fountain forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 40.121, -87.242 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two 9 inch snowfall observations were reported from the northwest side of the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Fountain County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Vermillion

When: January 5, 5:00 AM EST to January 6, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Vermillion forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 39.854, -87.464 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A 9 inch snowfall observation was reported from the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Vermillion County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Parke

When: January 5, 5:00 AM EST to January 6, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Parke forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 39.774, -87.206 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A snowfall observation of around 10 inches was reported from the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Parke County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Vigo

When: January 5, 5:00 AM EST to January 6, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Vigo forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 39.431, -87.390 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two snowfall observations, of 9 and 10 inches, were reported from the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Vigo County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Clay

When: January 5, 5:00 AM EST to January 6, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Clay forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 39.393, -87.116 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two snowfall observations, of 6.8 to just over 9 inches, were reported from the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Clay County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Sullivan

When: January 5, 5:00 AM EST to January 6, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Sullivan forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 39.089, -87.415 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A snowfall observation, of 9 inches, was reported from near the town of Sullivan. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Sullivan County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Tippecanoe

When: January 5, 6:00 AM EST to January 6, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Tippecanoe forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 40.389, -86.894 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall observations ranged from 8 to near 12 inches in the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Tippecanoe County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Montgomery

When: January 5, 6:00 AM EST to January 6, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Montgomery forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 40.040, -86.893 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A snowfall observation of 11 inches was reported from Crawfordsville. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Montgomery County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Putnam

When: January 5, 6:00 AM EST to January 6, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Putnam forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 39.666, -86.845 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall observations ranged from 11 to 12 inches in the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Putnam County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Owen

When: January 5, 6:00 AM EST to January 6, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Owen forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.313, -86.838 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall observations ranged from near 6 to 9.5 inches in the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Owen County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Greene

When: January 5, 6:00 AM EST to January 6, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Greene forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 39.036, -86.962 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A 6.5 inch snowfall observation was reported from the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Greene County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Carroll

When: January 5, 6:00 AM EST to January 6, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Carroll forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 40.583, -86.563 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A 10 inch snowfall observation was reported from near Flora. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Carroll County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Clinton

When: January 5, 6:00 AM EST to January 6, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Clinton forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 40.302, -86.475 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall observations ranged from 11 to 13.5 inches in the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Clinton County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Boone

When: January 5, 6:00 AM EST to January 6, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 40.051, -86.469 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall observations ranged from near 9 to 14 inches in the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Boone County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Hendricks

When: January 5, 6:00 AM EST to January 6, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Hendricks forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 39.770, -86.510 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall observations ranged from 11 to 13 inches in portions of the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Hendricks County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Morgan

When: January 5, 6:00 AM EST to January 6, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Morgan forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 39.482, -86.446 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall observations ranged from near 6 to 11 inches in the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Morgan County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Monroe

When: January 5, 6:00 AM EST to January 6, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Monroe forecast zone
Reported by: Post Office
Coordinates: 39.161, -86.523 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall observations ranged from near 1.5 inches south of Bloomington to 8 inches in Ellettsville. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Monroe County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Howard

When: January 5, 7:00 AM EST to January 6, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Howard forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 40.484, -86.117 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall observations ranged from near 9 to 12 inches in the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Howard County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Tipton

When: January 5, 7:00 AM EST to January 6, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Tipton forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 40.311, -86.052 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall observations ranged from near 11 to 13 inches in the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Tipton County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Hamilton

When: January 5, 7:00 AM EST to January 6, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 40.073, -86.052 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall observations ranged from near 9 to 13 inches in the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Hamilton County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Marion

When: January 5, 7:00 AM EST to January 6, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Marion forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 39.782, -86.138 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall observations ranged from near 8 to 12.5 inches in the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Marion County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

At Indianapolis, the 11.4 inches of snow that fell on January 5 was the second highest calendar day snowfall since records began, and that amount was a new record snowfall for the January 5 date. The Indianapolis record for most snowfall in a calendar day is 12.1 inches on March 19, 1906. At Indianapolis, only two other days in January have ever had greater than 10 inches of snow accumulate in 1 day: January 15, 1965 and January 26, 1978 (during the blizzard of '78).

Winter Storm, Johnson

When: January 5, 7:00 AM EST to January 6, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Johnson forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 39.490, -86.102 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall observations ranged from near 10 to 11.2 inches in the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Johnson County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Madison

When: January 5, 7:00 AM EST to January 6, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Madison forecast zone
Reported by: Post Office
Coordinates: 40.162, -85.719 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall observations ranged from 8 to 12 inches in the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Madison County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Hancock

When: January 5, 7:00 AM EST to January 6, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Hancock forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 39.824, -85.773 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall observations ranged from near 10 to 11.5 inches in the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Hancock County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Shelby

When: January 5, 7:00 AM EST to January 6, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Shelby forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 39.524, -85.792 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall observations ranged from 2 inches in the southwest portion of the county to near 9 inches in the northern portion. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Shelby County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Delaware

When: January 5, 8:00 AM EST to January 6, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Delaware forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 40.228, -85.397 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall observations ranged from near 9 to 13 inches in the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Delaware County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Henry

When: January 5, 8:00 AM EST to January 6, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Henry forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 39.931, -85.396 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall observations ranged from 3 to near 8 inches in the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Henry County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Rush

When: January 5, 8:00 AM EST to January 6, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Rush forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.620, -85.466 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A snowfall observation of 12 inches was reported from near Manilla. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Rush County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

Winter Storm, Randolph

When: January 5, 8:00 AM EST to January 6, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Randolph forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 40.158, -85.011 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall observations ranged from 6 to 11 inches in the county. Many of the impacts that were noted in the episode narrative, were seen in Randolph County. Schools cancelled classes after the snowfall and as the bitterly cold temperatures took root. Some roads were impassable.

What these are

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 2014 Every state in 2014 This day in weather history Warnings in Indiana, January 2014

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: 496916, 496917, 496919, 496920, 496921, 496922, 496923, 496924, 496925, 496927, 496928, 496929, 496930, 496931, 496932, 496933, 496934, 496935, 496936, 496937, 496939, 496940, 496941, 496942, 496943, 496944, 496945, 496946, 496947, 496948.