Indiana, 2018

Ice Storm in Indiana, November 14 to 15, 2018

November 14 to 15, 2018 · NWS LMK · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

A cold air mass already in place combined with an anomalous low pressure system to produce an early season freezing rain event across southern Indiana and central Kentucky. Many locations received between a tenth and a quarter of an inch of ice accumulation on trees/shrubs and other elevated surfaces.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 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
7

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 LMK wrote it up.

A cold air mass already in place combined with an anomalous low pressure system to produce an early season freezing rain event across southern Indiana and central Kentucky. Many locations received between a tenth and a quarter of an inch of ice accumulation on trees/shrubs and other elevated surfaces. Warm ground temperatures kept most roads ice free, though some bridges had slick spots.

The ice on the trees, many of which still had leaves that helped to weigh them down, caused several limbs/branches to snap and some trees to fall. There were many reports of power flashes overnight as branches hit transformers. At the peak of the event, over 100,000 customers were without power in the region. Some lost power for several days. Out of state crews were brought in to help restore power.

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 Louisville, KY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 14, 6:57 PM EST, 1 hour 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 14, 6:57 PM EST, 1 hour 3 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 14, 1:39 PM EST, 6 hours 21 minutes before
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In the hours before

Local storm report, Nov 14, 6:46 PM EST, 1 hour 14 minutes before
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Local storm report, Nov 14, 7:21 PM EST, 39 minutes before
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Local storm report, Nov 14, 7:41 PM EST, 19 minutes before
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Local storm report, Nov 14, 7:50 PM EST, 10 minutes before
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Local storm report, Nov 14, 7:54 PM EST, 6 minutes before
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Local storm report, Nov 14, 7:55 PM EST, 5 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

7 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Clark

When
November 14, 8:00 PM EST to November 15, 8:00 AM EST
Where
Clark forecast zone
Reported by
Utility Company
Coordinates
38.477, -85.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Duke Energy reported approximately 9,600 customers were without power at 6:30 am on the 15th.

Ice Storm, Floyd

When
November 14, 8:00 PM EST to November 15, 8:00 AM EST
Where
Floyd forecast zone
Reported by
Utility Company
Coordinates
38.319, -85.907 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Duke Energy reported that approximately 4,200 customers were without power on the morning of the 15th.

Ice Storm, Harrison

When
November 14, 8:00 PM EST to November 15, 8:00 AM EST
Where
Harrison forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
38.195, -86.111 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Widespread power outages were reported throughout the county due to icing bringing down limbs and trees. Transformers were lighting up the sky as they blew.

Ice Storm, Orange

When
November 14, 8:00 PM EST to November 15, 8:00 AM EST
Where
Orange forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
38.542, -86.495 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice was reported to be 0.2 inches thick on elevated surfaces. Power outages and tree damage was also reported.

Ice Storm, Jefferson

When
November 14, 8:00 PM EST to November 15, 8:00 AM EST
Where
Jefferson forecast zone
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
38.786, -85.439 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several power outages due to ice bringing down branches and trees. There was a solid layer of ice on cars with some slick spots on roads. This was all over the county.

Ice Storm, Perry

When
November 14, 8:00 PM EST to November 15, 8:00 AM EST
Where
Perry forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
38.080, -86.638 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Large tree limbs and trees were brought down from the ice. This caused power outages throughout the county.

Ice Storm, Crawford

When
November 14, 8:00 PM EST to November 15, 8:00 AM EST
Where
Crawford forecast zone
Reported by
Utility Company
Coordinates
38.292, -86.452 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

There were multiple reports of trees down and power outages due to ice. Approximately 3,000 customers were without power. Power was out for many for 4 to 5 days.

What these are

Ice Storm
Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Indiana in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, November 2018

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: 793253, 793254, 793256, 793257, 793258, 793260, 793261.