Indiana, 2019

Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Indiana, January 19, 2019

January 19, 2019 · NWS IWX · 23 events in 22 counties and zones

A deepening low pressure system through the Ohio Valley produced a swath of accumulating snow and strong winds across the Lower Great Lakes region on Saturday, January 19th. Snow totals of 4 to 8 inches and wind gusts to near 40 mph created difficult travel conditions.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 20 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
23

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.

A deepening low pressure system through the Ohio Valley produced a swath of accumulating snow and strong winds across the Lower Great Lakes region on Saturday, January 19th. Snow totals of 4 to 8 inches and wind gusts to near 40 mph created difficult travel conditions.

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 Jan 19, 4:05 AM EST, 55 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 19, 4:05 AM EST, 55 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 19, 4:46 AM EST, 14 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
446 AM EST Sat Jan 19 2019

INZ003>007-MIZ077>081-201000-
La Porte-St. Joseph IN-Elkhart-Lagrange-Steuben-Berrien-Cass MI-
St. Joseph MI-Branch-Hillsdale-
446 AM EST Sat Jan 19 2019 /346 AM CST Sat Jan 19 2019/

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM EST /1 PM CST/ THIS
AFTERNOON...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern Indiana and
southwest Michigan.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Winter Storm Warning.

Accumulating snow and blowing snow will impact travel through
this afternoon.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

Very cold air will arrive Sunday into Monday with sub zero wind
chills possible.

Lake effect snow showers are possible mainly across northwest
Indiana Sunday and Sunday night.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

INZ008-009-012>018-020-022>025-OHZ001-002-004-005-015-201000-
Noble-De Kalb-Starke-Pulaski-Marshall-Fulton IN-Kosciusko-Whitley-
Allen IN-White-Cass IN-Miami-Wabash-Huntington-Williams-Fulton OH-
Defiance-Henry-Paulding-
446 AM EST Sat Jan 19 2019 /346 AM CST Sat Jan 19 2019/

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ THIS
EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern Indiana and
northwest Ohio.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Winter Storm Warning.

Moderate snow will spread across the area this morning. Accumulating
snow and blowing snow will impact travel through tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

Very cold air will arrive Sunday into Monday with sub zero wind
chills possible.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

INZ026-027-032>034-OHZ016-024-025-201000-
Wells-Adams-Grant-Blackford-Jay-Putnam-Van Wert-Allen OH-
446 AM EST Sat Jan 19 2019

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern Indiana and
northwest Ohio.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Winter Storm Warning.

Moderate snow will spread across the area this morning. Accumulating
snow and blowing snow will impact travel through tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

Very cold air will arrive Sunday into Monday with sub zero wind
chills possible.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

LMZ043-046-201000-
New Buffalo MI to St Joseph MI-Michigan City IN to New Buffalo MI-
446 AM EST Sat Jan 19 2019

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for The Nearshore Waters of
Southeastern Lake Michigan.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Conditions hazardous to small craft are likely through tonight.
Freezing spray is also likely tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

Conditions hazardous to small craft will continue through Sunday.
Freezing spray is likely Sunday.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 19, 12:11 AM EST, 4 hours 49 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jan 19, 1:30 AM EST, 3 hours 30 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
130 AM EST SAT JAN 19 2019

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

1200 AM     SNOW             2 NNE COLDWATER         41.96N 84.99W
01/19/2019  M1.0 INCH        BRANCH             MI   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL AS OF MIDNIGHT.

&&

CM

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

21 winter storm, 2 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Whitley

When
January 19, 5:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Whitley forecast zone
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
41.139, -85.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moderate to at times heavy snow developed during the morning hours of January 19th and continued through the rest of the day. Winds really picked up during the day, gusting between 30 and 40 mph during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 4 and 5 inches, with significant blowing and drifting reported due to the strong winds. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region. A few secondary roads were impassable due to the significant drifting.

Winter Storm, Pulaski

When
January 19, 5:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Pulaski forecast zone
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
41.042, -86.699 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moderate to at times heavy snow developed during the morning hours of January 19th and continued through the rest of the day. Winds really picked up during the day, gusting between 30 and 40 mph during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 4 and 5 inches, with significant blowing and drifting reported due to the strong winds. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region. A few secondary roads were impassable due to the significant drifting.

Winter Storm, Fulton

When
January 19, 5:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Fulton forecast zone
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
41.047, -86.264 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moderate to at times heavy snow developed during the morning hours of January 19th and continued through the rest of the day. Winds really picked up during the day, gusting between 30 and 40 mph during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 4 and 6 inches, with significant blowing and drifting reported due to the strong winds. Rochester received 5.0 of total snow accumulation. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region. A few secondary roads were impassable due to the significant drifting.

Winter Storm, Cass

When
January 19, 5:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Cass forecast zone
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
40.762, -86.346 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moderate to at times heavy snow developed during the morning hours of January 19th and continued through the rest of the day. Winds really picked up during the day, gusting between 30 and 40 mph during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 4 and 5 inches, with significant blowing and drifting reported due to the strong winds. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region. A few secondary roads were impassable due to the significant drifting.

Winter Storm, Miami

When
January 19, 5:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Miami forecast zone
Reported by
CoCoRaHS
Coordinates
40.770, -86.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moderate to at times heavy snow developed during the morning hours of January 19th and continued through the rest of the day. Winds really picked up during the day, gusting between 35 and 45 mph during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 4 and 6 inches, with significant blowing and drifting reported due to the strong winds. Peru received 4.2 of total snow accumulation. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region. A few secondary roads were impassable due to the significant drifting.

Winter Storm, Huntington

When
January 19, 5:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where
Huntington forecast zone
Reported by
CoCoRaHS
Coordinates
40.829, -85.488 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moderate to at times heavy snow developed during the morning hours of January 19th and continued through the rest of the day. Winds really picked up during the day, gusting between 35 and 45 mph during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 4 and 6 inches, with significant blowing and drifting reported due to the strong winds. Huntington received 5.3 of total snow accumulation. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region. A few secondary roads were impassable due to the significant drifting.

Winter Storm, Wells

When
January 19, 5:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where
Wells forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
40.729, -85.221 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moderate to at times heavy snow developed during the morning hours of January 19th and continued through the rest of the day. Winds really picked up during the day, gusting between 35 and 45 mph during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 5 and 7 inches, with significant blowing and drifting reported due to the strong winds. Bluffton received 6.5 of total snow accumulation. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region. A few secondary roads were impassable due to the significant drifting.

Winter Storm, Adams

When
January 19, 5:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where
Adams forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
40.746, -84.937 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moderate to at times heavy snow developed during the morning hours of January 19th and continued through the rest of the day. Winds really picked up during the day, gusting between 35 and 45 mph during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 5 and 7 inches, with significant blowing and drifting reported due to the strong winds. Magley received 5.3 of total snow accumulation. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region. A few secondary roads were impassable due to the significant drifting.

Winter Storm, Grant

When
January 19, 5:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where
Grant forecast zone
Reported by
CoCoRaHS
Coordinates
40.516, -85.655 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moderate to at times heavy snow developed during the morning hours of January 19th and continued through the rest of the day. Winds really picked up during the day, gusting between 35 and 45 mph during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 6 and 8 inches, with significant blowing and drifting reported due to the strong winds. Marion received 7.6 of total snow accumulation. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region. A few secondary roads were impassable due to the significant drifting.

Winter Storm, Blackford

When
January 19, 5:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where
Blackford forecast zone
Reported by
CoCoRaHS
Coordinates
40.474, -85.325 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moderate to at times heavy snow developed during the morning hours of January 19th and continued through the rest of the day. Winds really picked up during the day, gusting between 35 and 45 mph during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 5 and 7 inches, with significant blowing and drifting reported due to the strong winds. Hartford City received 5.5 of total snow accumulation. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region. A few secondary roads were impassable due to the significant drifting.

Winter Storm, Jay

When
January 19, 5:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where
Jay forecast zone
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
40.438, -85.006 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moderate to at times heavy snow developed during the morning hours of January 19th and continued through the rest of the day. Winds really picked up during the day, gusting between 35 and 45 mph during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 5 and 7 inches, with significant blowing and drifting reported due to the strong winds. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region. A few secondary roads were impassable due to the significant drifting.

Winter Storm, Starke

When
January 19, 6:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
Starke forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
41.281, -86.648 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moderate to at times heavy snow developed during the morning hours of January 19th and continued through the rest of the day. Winds really picked up during the day, gusting between 30 and 40 mph during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 4 and 5 inches, with significant blowing and drifting reported due to the strong winds. A trained spotter received 4.0 of total snow accumulation in Knox. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region. A few secondary roads were impassable due to the significant drifting.

Winter Storm, Marshall

When
January 19, 6:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Marshall forecast zone
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
41.325, -86.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moderate to at times heavy snow developed during the morning hours of January 19th and continued through the rest of the day. Winds really picked up during the day, gusting between 30 and 40 mph during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 4 and 5 inches, with significant blowing and drifting reported due to the strong winds. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region. A few secondary roads were impassable due to the significant drifting.

Winter Storm, Elkhart

When
January 19, 6:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Elkhart forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
41.597, -85.859 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moderate to at times heavy snow developed during the morning hours of January 19th and continued through the rest of the day. Winds really picked up during the day, gusting between 30 and 40 mph during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 4 and 5 inches, with significant blowing and drifting reported due to the strong winds. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region. A few secondary roads were impassable due to the significant drifting.

Winter Storm, Lagrange

When
January 19, 6:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Lagrange forecast zone
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
41.643, -85.426 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moderate to at times heavy snow developed during the morning hours of January 19th and continued through the rest of the day. Winds really picked up during the day, gusting between 30 and 40 mph during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 4 and 5 inches, with significant blowing and drifting reported due to the strong winds. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region. A few secondary roads were impassable due to the significant drifting.

Winter Storm, Steuben

When
January 19, 6:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Steuben forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
41.644, -85.001 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moderate to at times heavy snow developed during the morning hours of January 19th and continued through the rest of the day. Winds really picked up during the day, gusting between 30 and 40 mph during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 4 and 6 inches, with significant blowing and drifting reported due to the strong winds. Hudson received 5.8 of total snow accumulation. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region. A few secondary roads were impassable due to the significant drifting.

Winter Storm, De Kalb

When
January 19, 6:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
De Kalb forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
41.398, -84.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moderate to at times heavy snow developed during the morning hours of January 19th and continued through the rest of the day. Winds really picked up during the day, gusting between 30 and 40 mph during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 4 and 6 inches, with significant blowing and drifting reported due to the strong winds. Butler received 5.0 of total snow accumulation. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region. A few secondary roads were impassable due to the significant drifting.

Winter Storm, Noble

When
January 19, 6:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Noble forecast zone
Reported by
CoCoRaHS
Coordinates
41.399, -85.417 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moderate to at times heavy snow developed during the morning hours of January 19th and continued through the rest of the day. Winds really picked up during the day, gusting between 30 and 40 mph during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 4 and 6 inches, with significant blowing and drifting reported due to the strong winds. Rome City received 5.3 of total snow accumulation. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region. A few secondary roads were impassable due to the significant drifting.

Winter Storm, Kosciusko

When
January 19, 6:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Kosciusko forecast zone
Reported by
NWS Employee

Moderate to at times heavy snow developed during the morning hours of January 19th and continued through the rest of the day. Winds really picked up during the day, gusting between 30 and 40 mph during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 5 and 7 inches, with significant blowing and drifting reported due to the strong winds. James Lake received 6.5 of total snow accumulation. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region. A few secondary roads were impassable due to the significant drifting.

Winter Storm, Whitley

When
January 19, 6:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where
Whitley forecast zone
Reported by
CoCoRaHS
Coordinates
41.139, -85.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moderate to at times heavy snow developed during the morning hours of January 19th and continued through the rest of the day. Winds really picked up during the day, gusting between 35 and 45 mph during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 5 and 7 inches, with significant blowing and drifting reported due to the strong winds. Peabody received 7.0 of total snow accumulation. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region. A few secondary roads were impassable due to the significant drifting.

Winter Storm, Allen

When
January 19, 6:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where
Allen forecast zone
Reported by
Official NWS Observations
Coordinates
41.091, -85.067 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moderate to at times heavy snow developed during the morning hours of January 19th and continued through the rest of the day. Winds really picked up during the day, gusting between 35 and 45 mph during the afternoon and early evening hours. Snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 4 and 6 inches, with significant blowing and drifting reported due to the strong winds. The Fort Wayne Airport received 5.3 of total snow accumulation. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region. A few secondary roads were impassable due to the significant drifting.

Winter Weather, St. Joseph

When
January 19, 6:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where
St. Joseph forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter

Light to at times heavy snow developed during the morning hours of January 19th and continued through the rest of the day. Winds really pick up during the day, gusting between 25 and 36 mph during the afternoon hours. Snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 2 and 4 inches, with blowing and drifting reported due to the strong winds. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region.

Winter Weather, La Porte

When
January 19, 6:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where
La Porte forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter

Light to at times heavy snow developed during the morning hours of January 19th and continued through the rest of the day. Winds really pick up during the day, gusting between 25 and 36 mph during the afternoon hours. Snow accumulations across the county generally ranged between 2 and 4 inches, with blowing and drifting reported due to the strong winds. Slide-offs and accidents were reported across the region.

What these are

Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
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 Indiana in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, January 2019

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: 793753, 793754, 793757, 793758, 793768, 793769, 793770, 793771, 793772, 793773, 793774, 793755, 793756, 793759, 793760, 793761, 793762, 793763, 793764, 793766, 793767, 793776, 793775.