During the afternoon hours of February 4th, a low pressure system moved through central Indiana bringing periods of rain and snow. Precipitation initially started out as snow but would transition to a mix of sleet and snow and finally rain as warm air moved into the area.
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.
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.
The episode as NWS IND wrote it up.
During the afternoon hours of February 4th, a low pressure system moved through central Indiana bringing periods of rain and snow. Precipitation initially started out as snow but would transition to a mix of sleet and snow and finally rain as warm air moved into the area. As precipitation came to an end, a strong low level jet and gradient winds related to the low pressure brought strong winds to central Indiana, primarily during the evening and early overnight hours. Winds generally gusted to around 40 to 45 mph. An isolated gust of 53 mph caused some isolated tree damage in Owen county with no other reports of damage received.
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 Feb 4, 6:10 PM EST, 1 hour 50 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 610 PM EST Thu Feb 4 2021 .UPDATE... The AVIATION Section has been updated below. && .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 600 PM EST Thu Feb 4 2021 Rapidly strengthening low pressure will move into the Great Lakes through tonight, dragging a strong cold front through the area overnight. Ahead of the front, rain and a wintry mix of precipitation types can be expected, with some potential to change back over to a rain/snow mix or all snow briefly before ending late this evening. Winds will pick up behind the front, with healthy gusts expected through tomorrow, along with some potential for flurries tomorrow afternoon or even some light snow far south tomorrow night. Another wave will move through the area Saturday night with a second shot of cold air trailing behind, and this will keep temperatures well below normal through the remainder of the forecast period. && .NEAR TERM /Rest of Today and Tonight/... Issued at 348 PM EST Thu Feb 4 2021 As expected, precipitation onset has come this afternoon with a mix of precipitation types, although a bit more sleet than originally expected. Generally the transition to all rain has been fairly quick, although a few sites across our far north have remained cool enough to be all snow for a time. Most of the area is now rain, and this trend will continue through the afternoon. As the front approaches and moves through the area tonight, there is some chance that the active cold advection could transition precipitation back to a rain/snow mix or all snow before ending, which should be by around midnight or 1 AM across the area, but minimal to no real impact is expected. Winds, which are already gusty across the area, will pick up overnight in the wake of the front with gusts to around 30KT likely at times per BUFKIT momentum transfer progs. Given the onset of strong cold advection, bumped blend mins down a bit tonight. Most of the area should range from the mid teens to low 20s by morning. && .SHORT TERM /Friday and Friday Night/... Issued at 348 PM EST Thu Feb 4 2021 BUFKIT momentum transfer progs suggest winds may remain strong and gusty longer than originally expected into Friday, and have raised blend wind gusts (which typically run too low as it is) substantially to account for this. Cannot entirely rule out an isolated gust as high as 40KT but expect that the vast majority of gusts should be below advisory criteria. May update SPS to adjust the timing wording a bit. Forecast soundings show relatively steep low level lapse rates tomorrow, and believe this could lead to development of some flurries across much of the area. Will carry a flurry mention throughout the afternoon hours. As we get into Friday evening, another upper level wave axis moves through the area, and southern portions of the area show saturation in the dendritic zone with at least some lift associated with the upper level wave. This will, however, be fighting a fairly dry low level airmass by that time. That said, slight chance pops are warranted across the southern couple tiers of counties, and cannot entirely rule out a light dusting during the evening hours. This should be a brief window of 5-6 hours or so before midlevels dry out again late Friday night. Continued cold advection through the short term should keep temperatures from recovering too substantially, particularly across the south tomorrow, where the blend looked at least a few degrees too warm. Made these adjustments as necessary. && .LONG TERM /Saturday through Thursday/... Issued at 348 PM EST Thu Feb 4 2021 Most of Saturday will be dry and cold with the area in between systems. On Saturday night, upper energy will interact with a surface front to bring some forcing to the area. Frontogenetical forcing will also be in play with another push of cold air moving in. Question then is on how much moisture is available. GFS right now an outlier in its lower QPF forecast as it keeps most of the moisture with a southern stream system. While the GFS's solution cannot be ruled out, believe the other guidance, especially since the next surge of colder air will try and squeeze any moisture out. There could be an inch or two of snow Saturday night, with the higher amounts most likely in the north. Sunday will be cold with high pressure in control. Another wave may ride along a front to the south of the area Monday into Tuesday, which could bring another round of snow to the area. Questions remain though on strength and track of the system, so will just go with some chance PoPs. High pressure should then keep cold and dry conditions for the remainder of the long term, but with the area in a broad upper trough, can't rule out energy moving through the trough bringing a chance for snow. Will go dry with low to medium confidence for Wednesday and Thursday. The initial shot of cold this weekend continues to not look to be as bad a previously thought, but it will still be cold with subzero wind chills possible Sunday in the north. A little moderation will occur Monday and Tuesday before another shot of potentially subzero cold moves in Wednesday night. && .AVIATION /Discussion for 050000z TAF issuance/... Issued at 556 PM EST Thu Feb 4 2021 IMPACTS: IFR ceilings and mixed precipitation through around 3z. MVFR ceilings after that with some light snow possible for a couple of hours. Cold frontal passage will shift gusty winds from around 180 to around 280. DISCUSSION: A low pressure system moving through Indiana will keep a precip mix over the sites for the next couple of hours with gusty southerly winds. After a cold frontal passage from 2 to 4 z from west to east, winds will shift to WNWly and a couple of hours of light snow is possible. Winds of 12 to 15 kts from 170 to 190 with gusts of 18 to 25 kts will shift to 270 to 290 with gusts to 30 kts. Clouds could rise to VFR during the morning, but gusty winds are expected throughout the day. CONFIDENCE: High confidence in restrictions through the overnight. Medium confidence in timing of the improvement to MVFR. Low confidence in precipitation type over the next few hours. Medium confidence in light snow after 3-5z for a couple hours. High confidence in wind gusts and direction change. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SYNOPSIS...Nield NEAR TERM...Nield SHORT TERM...Nield LONG TERM...50 AVIATION...CP
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 642 PM EST Thu Feb 4 2021 INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-052345- 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-Sullivan-Greene-Monroe-Brown-Bartholomew-Decatur-Knox-Daviess- Martin-Lawrence-Jackson-Jennings- Including the cities of Delphi, Flora, Williamsport, West Lebanon, Lafayette, West Lafayette, Frankfort, Kokomo, Attica, Covington, Veedersburg, Crawfordsville, Lebanon, Zionsville, Tipton, Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville, Anderson, Muncie, Winchester, Clinton, Newport, Rockville, Greencastle, Plainfield, Brownsburg, Danville, Indianapolis, Greenfield, Cumberland, New Castle, Terre Haute, Brazil, Clay City, Spencer, Martinsville, Mooresville, Greenwood, Franklin, Shelbyville, Rushville, Sullivan, Linton, Bloomfield, Bloomington, Nashville, Columbus, Greensburg, Vincennes, Washington, Loogootee, Shoals, Bedford, Mitchell, Seymour, Brownstown, and North Vernon 642 PM EST Thu Feb 4 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for central Indiana. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Hazards: A wintry precipitation mix this evening could create slick spots on roads. These could get worse overnight as much colder air arrives, freezing leftover moisture and producing black ice. Gusty winds of 30 to 40 mph will continue through the overnight, switching direction from southerly to northwesterly after frontal passage tonight. Discussion: A low pressure system moving through the Great Lakes will keep gusty winds and chances for wintry precipitation in the forecast for tonight. While the precipitation should come to an end during the night, the gusty winds will last through the day Friday. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Outlook: Across northern parts of central Indiana, below zero wind chills are possible each morning and night from Friday through Sunday. After slightly warmer conditions Sunday night through Tuesday, below zero wind chills return Tuesday night through Wednesday. Across southern parts of central Indiana, wind chills could get into the single digits, but may not get below zero during that same time. Minor snow accumulation is expected Saturday night, and possible Monday through Tuesday. Discussion: An Arctic system will move in this weekend, bringing a stretch of very cold temperatures and wind chills to central Indiana for parts of the weekend and well into next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated. && More information, along with other weather, hydrological and climate information can be found at http://weather.gov/ind
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 351 PM EST Thu Feb 4 2021 INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-050930- 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-Sullivan-Greene-Monroe-Brown-Bartholomew- Decatur-Knox-Daviess-Martin-Lawrence-Jackson-Jennings- Including the cities of Delphi, Flora, Williamsport, West Lebanon, Lafayette, West Lafayette, Frankfort, Kokomo, Attica, Covington, Veedersburg, Crawfordsville, Lebanon, Zionsville, Tipton, Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville, Anderson, Muncie, Winchester, Clinton, Newport, Rockville, Greencastle, Plainfield, Brownsburg, Danville, Indianapolis, Greenfield, Cumberland, New Castle, Terre Haute, Brazil, Clay City, Spencer, Martinsville, Mooresville, Greenwood, Franklin, Shelbyville, Rushville, Sullivan, Linton, Bloomfield, Bloomington, Nashville, Columbus, Greensburg, Vincennes, Washington, Loogootee, Shoals, Bedford, Mitchell, Seymour, Brownstown, and North Vernon 351 PM EST Thu Feb 4 2021 ...HIGH WIND GUSTS THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY.... Wind gusts will continue to increase as a low pressure system moves through the region. Winds are expected to be sustained between 15 and 25 MPH with gusts upwards of 40 MPH at times, particularly tonight into Friday following the passage of a cold front. Gusty winds could blow around unsecured outdoor objects and bring down a few tree limbs. Use caution if driving high profile vehicles susceptible to wind gusts.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 540 PM EST Thu Feb 4 2021 INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-050100- 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- Including the cities of Delphi, Flora, Williamsport, West Lebanon, Lafayette, West Lafayette, Frankfort, Kokomo, Attica, Covington, Veedersburg, Crawfordsville, Lebanon, Zionsville, Tipton, Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville, Anderson, Muncie, Winchester, Clinton, Newport, Rockville, Greencastle, Plainfield, Brownsburg, Danville, Indianapolis, Greenfield, Cumberland, New Castle, Terre Haute, Brazil, Clay City, Spencer, Martinsville, Mooresville, Greenwood, Franklin, Shelbyville, and Rushville 540 PM EST Thu Feb 4 2021 ...SLICK CONDITIONS POSSIBLE THIS EVENING... A wintry mix of rain, snow and sleet across central and northern parts of central Indiana could produce slick conditions this evening, especially on untreated roadways. While temperatures are above freezing, some slick spots have been reported. Motorists should exercise caution if traveling over the next couple of hours.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A few tree limbs of unknown size downed due to strong gradient winds.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, February 2021
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: 931858.