Indianapolis: Late Season Snowfall Events

0.3" of snow was measured, officially, in Indianapolis on April 14-15, 2014. This snowfall was a fairly rare occurrence for Indy this late in the season, when looking back at the historical record.

Here's all of the snowfall events 0.1" or greater, April 14 and later, in the recorded history of Indianapolis (since 1884).

April 18, 1887: 1.1"

April 14-15, 1893: 2.7" (1.5, 1.2)

April 21, 1893: 0.2"

May 2, 1897: 2.4"

April 18, 1901: 1.2"

April 21, 1901: 0.7"

April 19, 1910: 0.2"

April 24, 1910: 0.1"

April 17, 1921: 0.1"

May 8-9, 1923: 1.2" (0.3, 0.9)

April 26, 1926: 0.2"

April 22, 1927: 0.1"

May 2, 1929: 0.2"

April 16, 1951: 0.1"

April 17-18, 1953: 3.1" (2.5, 0.6)

April 15-17, 1961: 2.7" (0.3, 1.3, 1.1)

April 14-15, 1980: 0.7" (0.4, 0.3)

May 6, 1989: 0.2"

April 16, 2001: 0.2"

April 14-15, 2014: 0.3" (0.1, 0.2)

Indiana: April 15-17, 1961 Snowstorm

A late season winter storm hit the state of Indiana on April 15-17, 1961. Here is a recap of the storm.

Storm Report from NCDC

Hourly observations from the Indianapolis International Airport:
April 15 observations
April 16 observations
April 17 observations

Hourly observations from the Fort Wayne International Airport:
April 15 observations
April 16 observations
April 17 observations

Hourly observations from the South Bend Michiana Regional Airport:
April 15 observations
April 16 observations
April 17 observations


Snowfall reports from across the state of Indiana (sorted by county):

Fort Wayne Disposal Plant (Allen): 5.0"
Fort Wayne International Airport (Allen): 4.9"
Hartford City 4 ESE (Blackford): 6.5"
Whitestown (Boone): 4.9"
Delphi (Carroll): 6.6"
Logansport Radio WSA (Cass): 6.0"
Bowling Green 3 NE (Clay): 2.0"
Frankfort Disposal Plant (Clinton): 4.5"
Muncie 4 SE (Delaware): 1.0"
Elkhart (Elkhart): 7.8"
Goshen (Elkhart): 8.8"
Goshen Municipal Airport (Elkhart): 7.0"
Rochester (Fulton): 7.0"
Johnson Exp Farm (Gibson): 1.5"
Marion 2 N (Grant): 7.0"
Greenfield (Hancock): 2.0"
New Castle 4 SSE (Henry): 1.5"
Huntington (Huntington): 7.2"
Rensselaer (Jasper): 8.3"
Portland 1 SW (Jay): 2.5"
Salamonia (Jay): 6.4"
Franklin 2 NNE (Johnson): 2.0"
Warsaw (Kosciusko): 7.0"
Gary (Lake): 6.8"
Hobart 2 WNW (Lake): 5.7"
Whiting (Lake): 6.6"
La Porte (La Porte): 11.4"
Michigan City (La Porte): 10.5"
Wanatah 2 WNW (La Porte): 6.2"
Bedford (Lawrence): 1.0"
Anderson Sewage Plant (Madison): 3.0"
Anderson Water Works (Madison): 4.0"
Elwood (Madison): 4.0"
Indianapolis International Airport (Marion): 2.7"
Plymouth Power Substation (Marshall): 8.5"
Peru Grissom AFB (Miami): 3.9"
Bloomington Indiana University (Monroe): 4.3"
Crawfordsville Power Plant (Montgomery): 1.8"
Kentland (Newton): 7.0"
Albion 5 E (Noble): 4.0"
Kendallville (Noble): 5.0"
Rockville (Parke): 5.8"
Ogden Dunes (Porter): 7.8"
Valparaiso Waterworks (Porter): 9.3"
Winamac 2 SSE (Pulaski): 8.0"
Greencastle 1 E (Putnam): 5.0"
Winchester AAP 3 (Randolph): 6.0"
Rushville (Rush): 0.5"
South Bend Michiana Regional Airport (St. Joseph): 10.4"
Angola (Steuben): 7.4"
Lafayette 8 S (Tippecanoe): 5.4"
Lafayette Purdue University Airport (Tippecanoe): 3.0"
West Lafayette 6 NW (Tippecanoe): 5.0"
Liberty 3 SSE (Union): 1.6"
Evansville Regional Airport (Vanderburgh): 1.3"
Wabash (Wabash): 4.0"
Salem (Washington): 1.0"
Cambridge City 3 N (Wayne): 1.0"
Richmond Airport (Wayne): 1.2"
Richmond Waterworks (Wayne): 3.5"
Bluffton (Wells): 6.2"
Columbia City (Whitley): 4.0"

Track and evolution of the storm in six hour increments, from 12z April 15 to 12z April 17.

Indianapolis: First 70º Temperature Since October 13th

The temperature hit 70º today at the Indianapolis International Airport for the first time since October 13, 2013.

If we look at the achievement on a calendar year basis (since January 1), it was the 10th latest occurrence of a 70º temperature in the recorded history of Indianapolis. Records since 1872.

1) April 25, 1984

2) April 21, 1902

2) April 21, 1897

4) April 18, 1980

5) April 17, 1881

6) April 16, 1914

7) April 15, 1958

8) April 13, 1937

8) April 13, 1924

10) April 10, 2014

The longterm median date of the first 70º temperature of the calendar year for Indianapolis is March 18.

April 2014 Off To A Wet Start

April off to a wet start in Indiana. Here's the precipitation totals/departures to date for the airport sites, through 4/7.

Bloomington (BMG): 4.69" +3.63"

Evansville (EVV): 6.97" +6.04"

Fort Wayne (FWA): 2.81" +1.98"

Indianapolis (IND): 3.33" +2.49"

Indianapolis Eagle Creek (EYE): 3.49" +2.67"

Lafayette (LAF): 3.36" +2.65"

Muncie (MIE): 3.71" +2.87"

Shelbyville (GEZ): 3.49" +2.67"

South Bend (SBN): 1.26" +0.57"

Terre Haute (HUF): 3.99" +3.32"

BMG, EVV, and MIE have already surpassed their normal precipitation totals for April.

Indianapolis: First 60º/70º/80º/90º Occurrences

The first 60º, 70º, 80º, and 90º days of the year for Indianapolis, dating back to 1872.

First 60º Day

Median date: February 3

Earliest: January 1, 1876/1916/1952/1985

Latest: March 31, 1885

First 70º Day

Median date: March 18

Earliest: January 11, 1890

Latest: April 25, 1984

First 80º Day

Median date: April 21

Earliest: March 8, 1974

Latest: June 5, 1983

First 90º Day

Median date: June 14

Earliest: April 24, 1925

Latest: September 1, 1960* 

*2004 had no 90º days

Years that had all four thresholds achieved before the median date: 9 times (1880, 1894, 1946, 1954, 1967, 1972, 1985, 2002, and 2012)

Years that had all four thresholds achieved after the median date: 10 times (1872, 1881, 1884, 1904, 1908, 1912, 1923, 1961, 1980, and 1993)  

Indianapolis: Looking For The First 70º Temperature Of The Year

Still no 70º temperature for Indianapolis in 2014. Looks like this upcoming Thursday is the next best shot. If it happens, it would be the 10th latest date for the first 70º temp of the calendar year in recorded history (since 1872). Last year on April 6 is tied for the 17th latest 70º temp.

1) April 25, 1984

2) April 21, 1902

2) April 21, 1897

4) April 18, 1980

5) April 17, 1881

6) April 16, 1914

7) April 15, 1958

8) April 13, 1937

8) April 13, 1924

10) April 9, 1891

11) April 8, 1970

11) April 8, 1941

11) April 8, 1931

14) April 7, 2008

14) April 7, 1923

14) April 7, 1872

17) April 6, 2013

17) April 6, 1965

17) April 6, 1900

20) April 5, 2001

20) April 5, 1947

20) April 5, 1915

20) April 5, 1909

20) April 5, 1885

Longterm median date of the first 70º temperature is March 18.

The earliest 70º temp of the year for Indianapolis is January 11, 1890 (70º that day).

Bonus: February 20, 2014 was the 41st latest date for the first 60º temperature of the year (out of 143 years).

Cold December 2013-March 2014 and Where It Ranks

December 2013-March 2014 mean temperature rankings for Evansville, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, and South Bend.

Tied for 8th coldest December-March on record for Evansville (since 1896-97)

1) 28.8º in 1977-78

2) 32.4º in 1978-79

2) 32.4º in 1969-70

4) 32.9º in 1976-77

5) 33.0º in 1983-84

6) 33.2º in 1962-63

7) 33.5º in 1911-12

8) 33.7º in 2013-14

8) 33.7º in 2000-01

10) 33.8º in 1917-18

2nd coldest December-March on record for Fort Wayne (since 1898-99).

1) 21.3º in 1977-78

2) 23.2º in 2013-14

3) 24.2º in 1911-12

4) 24.7º in 1981-82

4) 24.7º in 1962-63

6) 25.0º in 1976-77

7) 25.5º in 1983-84

7) 25.5º in 1935-36

9) 25.7º in 1969-70

10) 25.9º in 1917-18

3rd coldest December-March on record for Indianapolis (since 1872-73).

1) 25.6º in 1977-78

2) 26.6º in 1884-85

3) 27.1º in 2013-14

4) 27.2º in 1962-63

5) 27.3º in 1976-77

6) 27.4º in 1911-12

7) 28.1º in 1983-84

7) 28.1º in 1969-70

7) 28.1º in 1903-04

10) 28.6º in 1935-36

4th coldest December-March on record for South Bend (since 1893-94).

1) 20.6º in 1903-04

2) 21.2º in 1911-12

3) 22.7º in 1977-78

4) 22.9º in 2013-14

5) 23.5º in 1962-63

6) 24.5º in 1935-36

7) 25.1º in 1958-59

8) 25.3º in 1981-82

9) 25.5º in 1983-84

9) 25.5º in 1969-70

Fort Wayne: March, January-March, and October-March Temperature and Snowfall Rankings

For Fort Wayne, March 2014 was the 6th coldest and the 7th snowiest on record.

Coldest March

1) 24.3º in 1960

2) 28.5º in 1984

3) 28.7º in 1912

4) 29.3º in 1965

5) 29.8º in 1932

6) 30.3º in 2014

7) 30.5º in 1926

7) 30.5º in 1906

9) 30.8º in 1900

10) 30.9º in 1978

Snowiest March

1) 27.0" in 1899

2) 21.3" in 1912

3) 19.5" in 1964

4) 18.5" in 1906

5) 18.1" in 2013

6) 13.3" in 1984

7) 13.2" in 2014

8) 12.6" in 1913

9) 12.5" in 1973

10) 11.7" in 1965

January-March 2014 is the 3rd coldest and the snowiest on record for Fort Wayne.

Coldest January-March

1) 19.8º in 1978

2) 20.9º in 1912

3) 21.8º in 2014

4) 24.1º in 1982

5) 24.3º in 1940

6) 24.8º in 1979

7) 25.1º in 1963

8) 25.2º in 1970

9) 25.9º in 1980

9) 25.9º in 1977

Snowiest January-March

1) 62.7" in 2014

2) 50.2" in 1982

3) 45.7" in 1912

4) 39.1" in 1964

5) 35.6" in 2011

6) 34.2" in 2003

7) 34.1" in 1978

8) 33.5" in 1900

9) 32.7" in 1913

10) 32.5" in 2008

October-March 2013-14 is the 4th coldest and the snowiest on record for Fort Wayne.

Coldest October-March

1) 29.7º in 1977-78

2) 30.2º in 1976-77

3) 30.6º in 1911-12

4) 30.8º in 2013-14

5) 31.2º in 1917-18

6) 31.6º in 1981-82

7) 32.1º in 1969-70

8) 32.5º in 1962-63

8) 32.5º in 1935-36

10) 32.7º in 2002-03

Snowiest October-March

1) 73.6" in 2013-14

2) 71.4" in 1981-82

3) 59.6" in 1977-78

4) 59.1" in 1911-12

5) 49.2" in 1983-84

6) 48.3" in 1914-15

7) 46.9" in 1963-64

8) 46.7" in 2002-03

9) 46.5" in 2010-11

10) 46.2" in 1966-67

Temperature and snowfall data since 1897. Some data missing in the early years.

Indianapolis: January-March and October-March Temperature and Snowfall Rankings

January-March 2014 is the 5th coldest and the snowiest on record for Indianapolis.

Coldest January-March

1) 24.3º in 1912

2) 24.4º in 1978

3) 25.5º in 1885

4) 26.1º in 1875

5) 26.2º in 2014

6) 26.9º in 1979

7) 27.9º in 1963

8) 28.0º in 1895

9) 28.1º in 1970

10) 28.3º in 1977

Snowiest January-March

1) 46.5" in 2014

2) 39.9" in 1978

3) 39.3" in 1996

4) 38.9" in 2003

4) 38.9" in 1982

6) 38.2" in 1906

7) 37.3" in 1979

8) 33.5" in 1984

9) 32.8" in 1965

10) 31.7" in 1914

Using October-March as the six "cool" months for Indianapolis, the 2013-14 period is tied for the 4th coldest on record for Indianapolis. It is also the 2nd snowiest.

Coldest October-March

1) 32.2º in 1976-77

2) 33.3º in 1880-81

3) 33.6º in 1911-12

4) 33.8º in 2013-14

4) 33.8º in 1977-78

6) 34.1º in 1969-70

7) 34.4º in 1917-18

7) 34.4º in 1903-04

7) 34.4º in 1872-73

10) 34.6º in 1884-85

Snowiest October-March

1) 57.9" in 1977-78

2) 55.4" in 2013-14

3) 54.9" in 1981-82

4) 51.7" in 1995-96

5) 50.0" in 2002-03

6) 46.8" in 1895-96

7) 42.7" in 1973-74

8) 41.9" in 1983-84

9) 38.6" in 1905-06

10) 38.0" in 1978-79

10) 38.0" in 1969-70

Temperature data since 1871...snowfall data since 1884.