Name: Winter Weather in Ohio, December 17, 2016
Start: 2016-12-17T00:00
End: 2016-12-17T23:00
Location: Ohio

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 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: 8

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.

Periods of light freezing rain, sleet, and snow with temperatures in the 20s to low 30s created hazardous travel conditions on December 17th. Ice accretions were generally less than a tenth of an inch.

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 16, 11:58 PM EST, 2 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 16, 11:58 PM EST, 2 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
1158 PM EST Fri Dec 16 2016

.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 1157 PM EST Fri Dec 16 2016

A wintry mix of mainly light freezing rain, sleet, and snow will
continue to create difficult travel conditions this morning as low
pressure tracks northeast into the Ohio Valley. This afternoon
will feature areas of drizzle and light rain as temperatures
reach into the 30s in most locations. An arctic front will bring
snow chances to the region tonight into early Sunday morning,
especially across northwest Indiana and southwest Lower Michigan
where several inches of snow accumulation is expected. Dangerous
wind chills and drier conditions will follow Sunday into Monday.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 750 PM EST Fri Dec 16 2016

Weak mid level wave and attendant strong low/mid level warm
advection is continuing to ramp up early this evening. Saturation
has been an issue through this point, with reports of light snow
beginning to come in across northwest Indiana/southwest lower
Michigan. It still appears as though axis of favored strongest
isentropic lift will orient in a northwest to southeast fashion
north of the Route 30 corridor from now until about the 06Z
timeframe. Despite diabatic effects with evaporational cooling,
mixed precip issues will likely come in play fairly quickly due to
strength of advective fields helping to develop weak warm layer
aloft. In addition, probability of ice nuclei should diminish
from west to east across the area overnight which could introduce
more in the way of freezing drizzle potential as opposed to light
snow. To further complicate ptype forecast is the potential of
some seeder-feeder mechanisms overnight that could favor periods
of light snow over light freezing rain/drizzle. With at least a
potential of light icing across most of the area in the form of
light freezing rain/freezing drizzle, did expand winter weather
advisory overnight across remainder of Indiana counties in
collaboration with surrounding offices.

Confidence in snowfall amounts for the overnight period is on the
low side given resolving exact location/orientation of strongest
isentropic lift and increasing ptype concerns discussed above.
Some of the initial lift appears to have been spent on low level
saturation issues. May need some downward adjustment to snow
amounts across portions of north central/northeast Indiana. Did
send updated ZFP to expand winter weather advisory south, with
slight decrease in snow amounts across northern Indiana. Will
assess trend over the next few hours for possible further
adjustments.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(This Evening through Saturday)
Issued at 219 PM EST Fri Dec 16 2016

Sw disturbance ejecting out of CO this aftn will lift out through
the upper midwest on Sat. Attendant sfc reflection will weaken newd
and now projected to track through central IN mid day Sat. This has
some important ramifications to going fcst...namely curtailing
erosion/modification of near sfc sfc layer and keeping temps aob
freezing across the north/northwest on Sat. Thus in light of good
12Z consensus solution will extend prior headlines forward in time
including nw zones through Sun aftn and another strip of counties
south tonight.

Upstream radars showing expanding returns aloft this hour with some
sfc reports now the of snow from central through nrn IL with
narrow h85 centered dry layer still yet to overcome. However
based on near term highres guidance trends and upstream vad wind
profiles...rapid intensification of precip echoes expected by late
afternoon as more vigorous moisture flux runs up overtop
retreating arctic dome. Present 12Z indications a bit wishy washy
concerning precip amounts overnight and have generally followed
with wetter solution camp in reflection of strong cross isobaric
flow and abundant moisture tap of 5-6 g/kg air later this evening.
Right turn of sfc low track tied obviously tied to weaker sfc
development and delays northward expansion of warm nose especially
in consideration of offsetting diabatic effects. Thus will hold
with predominate snow a bit longer and bump overnight accums a bit
too. Thereafter some degree of mid level dry slotting expected Sat
and icing potential greater now as sfc temps now look to stay
below freezing nw through north.

Thereafter mid level trough pivots across the area Sat evening with
a burst of snow as temps crash in response to arctic front wrapping
in. This will also spurn a strong lake response  late Sat night
through Sun morning as this cold air wraps east underneath lagging
cyclonic flow aloft. Given development of very unstable long axis
fetch coincident with seeder-feeder mechanism aloft...expect an
intense single band will develop with 1-2" per hour rates likely.
Contemplated upgrading the triangle to a warning based on eye
popping model suggestion yet enough uncertainty tied to ewd
progression and longevity Sun am to defer.

&&

.LONG TERM...(Sunday Night through Friday)
Issued at 219 PM EST Fri Dec 16 2016

Sw disturbance will lift out through se Canada through Sun as arctic
ridge builds in out of the central plains. Intense lake band ongoing
Sun morning will shift ewd into the aftn while weakening. Rapid veer
of low level flow and clearing will yield the coldest night of the
year as strong radiational cooling occurs Sun night. Expect alot of
areas will exceed -10 and typical drainage cold spots to -15 as
1045mb high ridges in overhead. Raw ECMWF sfc temps bottom near -20
which would obviously shatter existing records.

Thereafter significant moderation on tap as CONUS flow flattens in
response to new sys driving through the Rockies. Expect aoa normal
temps by DY7 Thu.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Saturday Night)
Issued at 1157 PM EST Fri Dec 16 2016

Ongoing low level moistening will allow for IFR and potentially a
period of LIFR conditions this morning. A wintry mix of mainly
light freezing rain and sleet will also persist through at least
daybreak with light ice accretions expected as low pressure tracks
ene toward the northern Ohio Valley. Some drier air may briefly
work into KSBN late morning/afternoon while a few showers and IFR
conditions persist through the day at KFWA near sfc low track. An
arctic front will then bring colder air and renewed snow chances
by this evening, especially at KSBN where accumulations and LIFR
conditions appear more likely thanks to lake enhancement.

&&

.IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IN...Winter Weather Advisory until 1 PM EST /noon CST/ Saturday for
     INZ008-009-012-014-016>018.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 4 PM EST Saturday for INZ005>007.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 1 PM EST /noon CST/ Sunday for
     INZ003-004.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 7 AM EST /6 AM CST/ Saturday for
     INZ013-015-020-022>027-032>034.

MI...Winter Weather Advisory until 4 PM EST Saturday for MIZ079>081.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 1 PM EST Sunday for MIZ077-078.

OH...Winter Weather Advisory until 1 PM EST Saturday for OHZ004-005-
     015-016-024-025.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 4 PM EST Saturday for OHZ001-002.

LM...Gale Watch from Saturday evening through Sunday morning for
     LMZ043-046.

&&

UPDATE...Marsili
SYNOPSIS...Steinwedel
SHORT TERM...T
LONG TERM...T
AVIATION...Steinwedel

Visit us at www.weather.gov/iwx

Follow us on Facebook...Twitter...and YouTube at:
www.facebook.com/NWSNorthernIndiana
www.twitter.com/nwsiwx
www.youtube.com/NWSNorthernIndiana

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 16, 9:42 PM EST, 2 hours 18 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
942 PM EST FRI DEC 16 2016

INZ003>009-012-014-016-017-MIZ077>081-OHZ001-002-004-005-171445-
LA PORTE-ST. JOSEPH IN-ELKHART-LAGRANGE-STEUBEN-NOBLE-DE KALB-STARKE-
MARSHALL-KOSCIUSKO-WHITLEY-BERRIEN-CASS MI-ST. JOSEPH MI-BRANCH-
HILLSDALE-WILLIAMS-FULTON OH-DEFIANCE-HENRY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MICHIGAN CITY...LA PORTE...SOUTH BEND...
MISHAWAKA...NEW CARLISLE...WALKERTON...ELKHART...GOSHEN...NAPPANEE...
LAGRANGE...TOPEKA...SHIPSHEWANA...ANGOLA...FREMONT...KENDALLVILLE...
LIGONIER...ALBION...AUBURN...GARRETT...KNOX...NORTH JUDSON...
BASS LAKE...PLYMOUTH...BREMEN...CULVER...WARSAW...WINONA LAKE...
SYRACUSE...MENTONE...COLUMBIA CITY...TRI-LAKES...SOUTH WHITLEY...
NILES...BENTON HARBOR...ST. JOSEPH...FAIR PLAIN...BENTON HEIGHTS...
BUCHANAN...PAW PAW LAKE...DOWAGIAC...CASSOPOLIS...MARCELLUS...
STURGIS...THREE RIVERS...WHITE PIGEON...MENDON...COLDWATER...
BRONSON...HILLSDALE...JONESVILLE...LITCHFIELD...BRYAN...MONTPELIER...
EDGERTON...WAUSEON...ARCHBOLD...SWANTON...DELTA...DEFIANCE...
SHERWOOD...HICKSVILLE...NAPOLEON...DESHLER...LIBERTY CENTER
942 PM EST FRI DEC 16 2016 /842 PM CST FRI DEC 16 2016/

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO OVERSPREAD FAR NORTHERN INDIANA AND SOUTHERN
LOWER MICHIGAN TONIGHT. THE SNOW WILL MIX WITH SLEET AND FREEZING
RAIN FROM SOUTH TO NORTH OVERNIGHT. CHECK THE LATEST WINTER
WEATHER MESSAGE FOR DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO TRANSITION BACK TO RAIN ACROSS MUCH
OF NORTHEAST INDIANA ON SATURDAY. A MIX OF LIGHT SNOW AND
FREEZING RAIN MAY PERSIST ACROSS NORTHWEST INDIANA...PORTIONS OF
NORTH CENTRAL INDIANA...AND SOUTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN. THE WINTRY
MIX IS EXPECTED TO CHANGE BACK TO ALL SNOW FROM NORTHWEST TO
SOUTHEAST SATURDAY NIGHT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT PRECIPITATION TYPE AND
MEASUREMENTS.

&&

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

INZ013-015-018-020-022>027-032>034-OHZ015-016-024-025-171445-
PULASKI-FULTON IN-ALLEN IN-WHITE-CASS IN-MIAMI-WABASH-HUNTINGTON-
WELLS-ADAMS-GRANT-BLACKFORD-JAY-PAULDING-PUTNAM-VAN WERT-ALLEN OH-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WINAMAC...FRANCESVILLE...MEDARYVILLE...
ROCHESTER...AKRON...FORT WAYNE...NEW HAVEN...MONTICELLO...MONON...
BROOKSTON...LOGANSPORT...ROYAL CENTER...PERU...GRISSOM AFB...
MEXICO...WABASH...NORTH MANCHESTER...HUNTINGTON...ROANOKE...
BLUFFTON...OSSIAN...DECATUR...BERNE...MARION...GAS CITY...UPLAND...
HARTFORD CITY...MONTPELIER...PORTLAND...DUNKIRK...PAULDING...
ANTWERP...PAYNE...OTTAWA...LEIPSIC...COLUMBUS GROVE...CONTINENTAL...
PANDORA...VAN WERT...OHIO CITY...LIMA...SPENCERVILLE
942 PM EST FRI DEC 16 2016 /842 PM CST FRI DEC 16 2016/

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

A MIX OF SNOW...SLEET...AND FREEZING RAIN IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE
OVERNIGHT BEFORE CHANGING TO ALL RAIN TOWARD DAYBREAK. CHECK THE
LATEST WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE FOR DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

RAIN IS EXPECTED TO TRANSITION TO A PERIOD OF FREEZING RAIN
SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING BEFORE CHANGING TO ALL SNOW
SATURDAY NIGHT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT PRECIPITATION TYPE AND
MEASUREMENTS.

&&

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

LMZ043-046-171445-
NEW BUFFALO MI TO ST JOSEPH MI-MICHIGAN CITY IN TO NEW BUFFALO MI-
942 PM EST FRI DEC 16 2016

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

A GALE WATCH IS IN EFFECT SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING.
FREEZING SPRAY IS ALSO EXPECTED. CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN HAZARDOUS
FOR SMALL CRAFT FROM SATURDAY INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.

&&

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

In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 16, 9:23 PM EST, 2 hours 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
923 PM EST FRI DEC 16 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0920 PM     SNOW             3 SW GRANGER            41.71N 86.18W
12/16/2016  M1.1 INCH        ST. JOSEPH         IN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            AS OF 9:20PM.

&&

CR

Local storm report, Dec 16, 11:51 PM EST, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
1151 PM EST FRI DEC 16 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1150 PM     SNOW             BENTON HARBOR           42.12N 86.45W
12/16/2016  E2.0 INCH        BERRIEN            MI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            2 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION SINCE 7 PM.
            SNOW DEPTH NOW 8 INCHES.

&&

MCS

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Williams

When: December 17, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where: Williams forecast zone
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 41.560, -84.588 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous accidents were reported across the region on December 17th due to icy roads, especially during the morning hours. A lull in the precipitation and temperatures warming to near freezing led to some improvement during the late morning and afternoon before untreated roads iced back up during the evening.

Winter Weather, Fulton

When: December 17, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where: Fulton forecast zone
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 41.602, -84.130 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous accidents were reported across the region on December 17th due to icy roads, especially during the morning hours. A lull in the precipitation and temperatures warming to near freezing led to some improvement during the late morning and afternoon before untreated roads iced back up during the evening.

Winter Weather, Henry

When: December 17, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where: Henry forecast zone
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 41.334, -84.068 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous accidents were reported across the region on December 17th due to icy roads, especially during the morning hours. A lull in the precipitation and temperatures warming to near freezing led to some improvement during the late morning and afternoon before untreated roads iced back up during the evening.

Winter Weather, Defiance

When: December 17, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where: Defiance forecast zone
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 41.324, -84.490 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous accidents were reported across the region on December 17th due to icy roads, especially during the morning hours. A lull in the precipitation and temperatures warming to near freezing led to some improvement during the late morning and afternoon before untreated roads iced back up during the evening.

Winter Weather, Paulding

When: December 17, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where: Paulding forecast zone
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 41.117, -84.580 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous accidents were reported across the region on December 17th due to icy roads, especially during the morning hours. A lull in the precipitation and temperatures warming to near freezing led to some improvement during the late morning and afternoon before untreated roads iced back up during the evening.

Winter Weather, Putnam

When: December 17, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where: Putnam forecast zone
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 41.022, -84.132 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous accidents were reported across the region on December 17th due to icy roads, especially during the morning hours. A lull in the precipitation and temperatures warming to near freezing led to some improvement during the late morning and afternoon before untreated roads iced back up during the evening.

Winter Weather, Van Wert

When: December 17, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where: Van Wert forecast zone
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 40.855, -84.586 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous accidents were reported across the region on December 17th due to icy roads, especially during the morning hours. A lull in the precipitation and temperatures warming to near freezing led to some improvement during the late morning and afternoon before untreated roads iced back up during the evening.

Winter Weather, Allen

When: December 17, 12:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where: Allen forecast zone
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 40.772, -84.106 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous accidents were reported across the region on December 17th due to icy roads, especially during the morning hours. A lull in the precipitation and temperatures warming to near freezing led to some improvement during the late morning and afternoon before untreated roads iced back up during the evening.

What these are

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

More

Every storm in Ohio in 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history Warnings in Ohio, December 2016

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: 662874, 662875, 662876, 662877, 662878, 662879, 662880, 662881.