02.02.2024

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Today’s Forecast

44º | Mostly cloudy | 0% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:52 a.m. |
Sunset 6:04 p.m.

❄️ Snow what fun

The history of snow in Indianapolis

Aerial view of downtown Indianapolis with snowfall

Even if you’re not a fan of snow, it still brings a beautiful sight in Indianapolis. | Photo by @aaron.creates

You just never know what Mother Nature is going to give us in Indy. This winter hasn’t been too bad as far as snow, so we’re taking a look at some of the biggest snowfalls in Indy history.

Did you know January is usually the coldest month of the year in Indiana? Historically, when temperatures drop in the frigid zone, January is 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.

A snow-covered car in a parking lot in Michigan City, IN — This January in northern Indiana, cars were found buried in accumulated snow.
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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 monthly record for Indianapolis.

While the three-day snow emergency did bring its fair share of grief like an influx of ill and injured folks + stranded motorists, it’s certain that Hoosiers also celebrated a surge of civic pride as residents reflected upon stories of personal sacrifice and acts of goodwill.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the snow — Snowmobile 500, anyone?
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Photo by @indianapolismotorspeedway

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 in Indianapolis:

0.2 inches on Oct. 18, 1989

And before you start DoorDashing the milk and bread this year, know that this winter, forecasters with the National Weather Service predicted warmer, wetter weather for central Indiana, but the occasional cold snap is still possible.

We hope you’ve enjoyed the bit of sunshine that returned this week after one of the cloudiest Januarys on record in Indianapolis and the sixth wettest January to date. (The precipitation surplus is nearly two inches in Indy.)

Events

Friday, Feb. 2

For the Love of the Game | Friday, Feb. 2-Friday, March 1 | 12-6 p.m. | Gallery Forty-Two, 42 E. Washington St., Indianapolis | Free | Gallery Forty-Two presents an All-Star art collection by multimedia artist FINGERCREATIONS featuring basketball players that inspire the love of the game.
Friends of the Library Book Sale | Friday, Feb. 2 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Library Zionsville Branch, 250 N. 5th St., Zionsville | Cost of purchase | Find books and other materials for your personal collection, along with an assortment of baked goods.

Saturday, Feb. 3

Indy Winter Farmers Market | Saturday, Feb. 3 | 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | The AMP at 16 Tech, 1220 Waterway Blvd., Indianapolis | Cost of purchase | Shop from 60+ vendors, including local farmers, food producers, and artisans.
Indianapolis Speed Dating | Saturday, Feb. 3 | 1-5 p.m. | Nevermore, 302 S. Meridian St., Indianapolis | $20-$25 | Enjoy the atmosphere while you go on many face-to-face six-minute mini dates with other single professionals.

Sunday, Feb. 4

2024 Wedding Show | Sunday, Feb. 4 | 1-4 p.m. | Daniel’s Vineyard, 9061 N. 700 W., McCordsville | Free entry | Tour the facility and meet the industry’s best vendors while enjoying cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, photo ops, music, and all the wedding design inspo.

Monday, Feb. 5

Meditation for Everyday People | Monday, Feb. 5 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Indianapolis Public Library West Perry Branch, 6650 S. Harding St., Indianapolis | Registration required | This practice is suitable for beginners, Zen Masters, and everyone in between.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Today Is

Groundhog Day. This morning, Punxsutawney Phil gives his unofficial weather prediction. Remember: Legend says that if the groundhog sees its shadow, six more weeks of winter lie ahead. If not, an early spring is expected. Don’t trust Phil? You can always reference our winter weather outlook, too.

Development

Indy DPW began work on a trail along the Southeastern Avenue corridor from Washington Street to Leeds Avenue. The trail will be just over one mile long + cost around $2.1 million, featuring 56 accessible ramps, six crosswalks, and ~5,500 ft of trail. (WTHR)

Traffic

A big change is coming to College Avenue downtown. In mid-February, Indy DPW will convert the one-way street to two-way traffic. The shift will stretch five blocks between St. Clair Street and Market Street — upgrades include protected bike lanes and rectangular, rapid-flashing crosswalk signals. (WTHR)

Open

Okay Greenwood, we see you. A new cocktail bar called SIP Cocktails on Main opens today. The bar is “curated for the socializers, cocktail forward, late night revelers, and everyone in between.” Its hours are Friday + Saturday from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Number

8,500. That’s about how many hotel rooms there are downtown + they’re becoming harder to get ahead of NBA All-Star Weekend (Feb. 16-18). The league has booked more than 7,000 rooms to house media, players and their families, staff, sponsors, and ticket holders throughout the weekend. (IBJ)

Edu

Several school districts across central Indiana will be closed or host an e-learning day for the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. Even Indiana University has canceled all in-person classes for the day. See the full list of schools. (WTHR)

Closed

Another downtown staple said farewell. Mimi Blue, known for its meatballs and classic American fare, closed its original and last remaining location at 870 Mass Ave. on Tuesday, Jan. 30. It said rising operational costs was the reason behind the closure. (IndyStar)

Pets

Got a golden? The Golden Retriever Rescue & Community Education will join social club Indy Goldens at Metazoa Brewing tomorrow, Feb. 3 from 12 to 4 p.m., to celebrate National Golden Retriever Day. There will be raffles, giveaways and (hopefully) lots of dogs.

Announced

Congratulations to our survey winner, Rachel M., for winning $500. Thank you to everyone who took the time to take our survey. We’re excited to continue providing positive news and events in our free newsletter.

Home

This Valentine’s Day decor is making our hearts skip a beat and includes heart-shaped wreaths, neon “love” signs, heart-shaped felt garlands, and cozy red blankets.*

Contest

📸 And the winner is...

See the winner of our 2023 Picture of the Year contest

A group of people canoeing on the White River in the fall

White River in the fall | Photo submitted by Courtney W.

Who knew there were so many talented photographers in Indianapolis? You all submitted 45+ photos for our 2023 Picture of the Year contest and the votes are in.

Check the contest winner that you — our readers — voted for.

Winner: White River in the Fall by Courtney W.

You can joke about the White River being dirty all you want, but it’s actually a beautiful sight when you get out on the water.

And 343 of you agree — with this photo earning 64% of the votes.

For City Editor Nicole, paddling on the White River for the first time was one of her favorite memories of 2023.

See the finalists

The Buy

The Buy 2.02.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

A portable phone charger that’s credit card-sized and fits right on the back of your smartphone. Choose your color and store the slim, lightweight device in your pocket or bag.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Nicole

From the editor

Last year, Frank’s Livery opened along the White River in Indianapolis — becoming the first to offer water sports rentals on the river. This is only the beginning of efforts to make the river a cleaner and more desirable destination for recreation. The White River Vision Plan, released in 2019, calls for everything from new riverfront retail to quarry climbing and a floating stage. I’m so ready for this new era of the White River.

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