A deep upper trough reinforced by a series of short waves plunging arctic air through interior North America, maintained persistent anomalous cold over central Indiana through January 2026's final week and February 1st, which was enhanced by a deep snow pack over most zones. The cold outbreak's final embedded short wave plunged the farthest south, from the Middle Mississippi Valley on January…
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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.
A deep upper trough reinforced by a series of short waves plunging arctic air through interior North America, maintained persistent anomalous cold over central Indiana through January 2026's final week and February 1st, which was enhanced by a deep snow pack over most zones. The cold outbreak's final embedded short wave plunged the farthest south, from the Middle Mississippi Valley on January 31st to the Carolina coast on the 1st. Associated arctic surface high pressure centered over the Louisiana Gulf coast early on the 1st, extended its amplified ridge axis back over Indiana and into southeastern Canada, amid a weak surface gradient. Resultant clear skies and light winds prevailed over central Indiana's remnant 5-10 inch snow pack from the January 31st late evening through daybreak on the 1st. Temperatures fell generally as low as -5 to -15F with widespread resultant wind chills of -5F to -27F over the majority of central Indiana, with criteria wind chills limited to only Putnam, Hancock and Shelby Counties.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 extreme cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.
On the 1st pre-dawn to early morning, temperatures as low as -17F, and light winds sustained under 5 mph...resulted in extreme wind chills as low as -27F.
On the 1st pre-dawn, temperatures as low as -12F, and light winds sustained under 5 mph...resulted in extreme wind chills as low as -20F.
On the 1st early morning, temperatures as low as -12F, and light winds sustained under 5 mph...resulted in extreme wind chills as low as -21F.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Indiana in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Indiana, February 2026
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: 1318213, 1318215, 1318214.