You just never know what Mother Nature is going to give us in Indy. When we feel like we’re suffering under an inch or two of snow, it can help to look back at some of the biggest snowfalls in Indy history.
Not surprisingly, January is usually the coldest month of the year in Indiana. It’s also the snowiest month of the year, with as much as 10 ft in the northern part of the state. Raise your hand if you remember Indianapolis’ blizzard of 1978.
This January in northern Indiana, cars were found buried in accumulated snow.
Photo by @thedroneguy317
ICYMI, here’s what happened: On Jan. 26, 1978, Hoosiers woke up to a blizzard and wind chills that plummeted to -51°F. Strong, gusty winds lasted for nearly two days, creating snowdrifts as deep as 10 ft. The total January snowfall hit 30.6 inches that year — setting a record for Indianapolis.
While the three-day snow emergency did bring its fair share of injury, illness, and property damage, it also highlighted Hoosiers’ trademark hospitality, with many sharing stories of neighborly acts of goodwill that helped them survive.
Here are some more snowtable fast facts about Indy’s relationship with snow days:
❄️ Other heavy snowfalls Indianapolis experienced:
- 12.1 inches on March 19, 1906
- 11.4 inches on Jan. 5, 2014
❄️ The earliest recorded snowfall of the season in Indianapolis:
- 0.2 inches on Oct. 18, 1989
❄️ The latest recorded snowfall of the season in Indianapolis:
- 2 inches on April 21, 2021
Snowmobile 500, anyone?
Photo by @indianapolismotorspeedway
But what about the future of snow in Indy? You might want to start stocking your pantry now, just in case. This winter, forecasters are predicting colder, wetter weather than the average winter for central Indiana.
