Overview
Snow developed across central Indiana during the late afternoon and evening hours ahead of an area of low pressure. Snow fell at around an inch per hour at some locations. Snow eventually changed to rain during the night at most areas. Snow totals up to around 7 inches were reported. Additional light snows fell the next evening. |
Heavy Snow Falling at NWS Indianapolis at about 7:30 PM EST January 30. |
Snow/Ice
Below are plots of snow reports received by the NWS Indianapolis. Click on an image for a larger version. Text summaries follow the images. The first summary shows amounts for the snow ending the morning of January 31 from largest to smallest. The second summary lists 48 hour total snow amounts by county, ending the morning of February 1.
Map of Snow Reports through Morning of January 31 | Zoomed in Map of Same Snow Reports |
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 512 PM EST Sun Jan 31 2021 ...SNOWFALL REPORTS... Location Amount Time/Date Provider Summitville 7.0 in 0917 AM 01/31 Lafayette 2.2 NE 6.5 in 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Frankfort 4.9 NNE 6.1 in 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS 4.7 W West Lafayette 6.0 in 0800 AM 01/31 COOP 5.1 SE Goldsmith 5.5 in 0600 AM 01/31 COOP West Lafayette 5.3 in 0830 AM 01/31 Trained Spotter Kokomo 4.6 ESE 5.0 in 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS 3 W West Lafayette 4.9 in 1045 PM 01/30 Broadcast Media 1 WSW New Whiteland 4.5 in 0835 PM 01/30 Cocorahs Lebanon 4.5 in 0900 PM 01/30 Public Greenwood 3.8 W 4.5 in 0650 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Westfield 1.4 ESE 4.5 in 0730 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Brownsburg 0.8 NNW 4.4 in 0733 AM 01/31 COCORAHS 2 SW Westfield 4.3 in 0810 AM 01/31 1 S Wynnedale 4.2 in 0824 PM 01/30 Public 1 W Plainfield 4.1 in 0904 PM 01/30 Public 2 E Greenwood 4.0 in 0816 PM 01/30 Public 4 NE Waverly 4.0 in 0824 PM 01/30 Public 3 E Danville 4.0 in 0845 PM 01/30 Public 4 W Avon 4.0 in 0852 PM 01/30 Public 1 WSW Franklin 4.0 in 0900 PM 01/30 Public Speedway 4.0 in 0905 PM 01/30 Public 2 NE New Whiteland 4.0 in 0914 PM 01/30 Public 2 SE Morse Reservoir 4.0 in 0921 PM 01/30 Public 5 WSW New Palestine 4.0 in 0935 PM 01/30 Public Frankfort 4.0 in 1107 PM 01/30 Trained Spotter 3 SSW Castleton 4.0 in 1128 PM 01/30 Public Lebanon 6 W 4.0 in 0700 AM 01/31 COOP (K9UZZ) Saratoga 3.4 WNW 4.0 in 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Lebanon 4.4 W 4.0 in 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Franklin 1 W 4.0 in 0700 AM 01/31 COOP 1 SW Warren Park 3.9 in 0842 PM 01/30 Public Greenwood 2.1 ESE 3.8 in 0745 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Brooklyn 0.5 ENE 3.8 in 0810 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Speedway 6.2 SSW 3.7 in 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Castleton 1.7 S 3.6 in 1159 PM 01/30 COCORAHS Mooresville 3.8 NE 3.6 in 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS 3 N Bargersville 3.5 in 0750 PM 01/30 Public 4 NNW Bargersville 3.5 in 0920 PM 01/30 Cocorahs Greenfield 2.4 W 3.5 in 0630 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Avon 1.6 NNW 3.5 in 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Hope 5.2 NW 3.5 in 0800 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Plainfield 1.1 W 3.5 in 0815 AM 01/31 COCORAHS 1 ENE Brooklyn 3.4 in 0745 PM 01/30 NWS Employee 1 SSE Indianapolis Int`l Air 3.3 in 0800 PM 01/30 Official NWS Obs 2 WNW New Market 3.2 in 0900 PM 01/30 NWS Employee 2 SSE Westfield 3.2 in 1115 PM 01/30 Amateur Radio New Castle 2.4 SW 3.2 in 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Columbus 3.1 in 0752 PM 01/30 Public 2 NE Fishers 3.1 in 0844 PM 01/30 Public Thorntown 3.4 SW 3.1 in 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Danville 3.0 in 0736 PM 01/30 Public Mooresville 3.0 in 0747 PM 01/30 Public 2 SSE Brownsburg 3.0 in 0754 PM 01/30 NWS Employee 2 SW Thorntown 3.0 in 0805 PM 01/30 Public 2 NW Straughn 3.0 in 0842 PM 01/30 Public Knightstown 3.0 in 0843 PM 01/30 Public Veedersburg 3.0 in 0900 PM 01/30 Public 0.7 SW Gessie 3.0 in 0610 AM 01/31 COOP Yorktown 1.1 NNW 3.0 in 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Franklin 4.8 SSE 3.0 in 0800 AM 01/31 COCORAHS 1 W Ulen 2.8 in 0900 PM 01/30 Public 0.6 NW Greensburg 2.8 in 1200 AM 01/31 COOP Mccordsville 2.6 NE 2.8 in 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS 1.1 NW New Market 2.8 in 0700 AM 01/31 COOP Zionsville 4.3 NNW 2.6 in 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS 2 SSW Shelbyville 2.5 in 0728 PM 01/30 Public 4 NW Crows Nest 2.5 in 0742 PM 01/30 Public 4 SW Columbus 2.5 in 0806 PM 01/30 Public 2 SE Westfield 2.5 in 1010 PM 01/30 Public Fishers 2.5 in 1035 PM 01/30 Public (KB9CIY)Greensburg 6.0 SW 2.5 in 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Muncie 2.5 in 0700 AM 01/31 COOP Fishers 1.1 N 2.5 in 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS 3 SSW Morse Reservoir 2.4 in 0944 PM 01/30 Public Yorktown 2.3 in 0930 PM 01/30 Public 2 N Country Club Heights 2.1 in 0900 PM 01/30 Trained Spotter Elizabethtown 2.0 in 0721 PM 01/30 Public 1 N Broad Ripple 2.0 in 0730 PM 01/30 Broadcast Media 1 S Lafayette 2.0 in 0824 PM 01/30 Public Anderson 2.0 in 0854 PM 01/30 Public 1 NW Lake Santee 2.0 in 0915 PM 01/30 Public 1.8 SE Franklin 2.0 in 0700 AM 01/31 COOP Fishers 4.3 ENE 2.0 in 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Nashville 7.8 SE 2.0 in 0759 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Indianapolis 5.8 NNE 2.0 in 0800 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Indianapolis 9.2 NNE 2.0 in 0826 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Fishers 3.0 NE 2.0 in 0844 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Muncie 1.2 SE 1.9 in 0635 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Cloverdale 3.5 W 1.9 in 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS 1 SSW Yorktown 1.8 in 0837 PM 01/30 Trained Spotter (K9CJC) Springport 3.5 NE 1.8 in 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Jamestown 1.6 E 1.8 in 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS 1 N Bloomington 1.5 in 0710 PM 01/30 Public Homer 0.4 NE 1.5 in 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Franklin 2.0 NW 1.5 in 0800 AM 01/31 COCORAHS Zionsville 1.0 in 0735 PM 01/30 Public 2 NNE Westfield 1.0 in 0809 PM 01/30 Public Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying equipment and exposures. We thank all volunteer weather observers for their dedication. Not all data listed are considered official.
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN 1035 AM EST MON FEB 1 2021 ...2 DAY SNOWFALL REPORTS FOR JANUARY 30/31 WINTER STORM... LOCATION AMOUNT TIME/DATE PROVIDER ...INDIANA... ...BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY... TAYLORSVILLE 0.8 SSW 5.5 IN 0430 AM 02/01 COCORAHS HOPE 5.2 NW 4.3 IN 0800 AM 02/01 COCORAHS HOPE 5.2 NW 3.5 IN 0800 AM 01/31 COCORAHS ...BOONE COUNTY... LEBANON 4.4 W 5.2 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS LEBANON 6 W 5.2 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COOP LEBANON 4.5 NNE 4.0 IN 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS SHERIDAN 2.0 SW 4.0 IN 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS JAMESTOWN 1.6 E 3.7 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS 1.6 E JAMESTOWN 3.7 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COOP THORNTOWN 3.4 SW 3.1 IN 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS LEBANON 1.9 NNW 3.0 IN 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS ...BROWN COUNTY... NASHVILLE 7.8 SE 3.0 IN 0859 AM 02/01 COCORAHS ...CARROLL COUNTY... BURLINGTON 0.1 NNE 6.0 IN 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS ...CLINTON COUNTY... FRANKFORT 4.9 NNE 6.9 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS ...DECATUR COUNTY... (KB9CIY)GREENSBURG 6.0 SW 4.5 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS 0.6 NW GREENSBURG 4.0 IN 1200 AM 02/01 COOP ...DELAWARE COUNTY... YORKTOWN 1.1 NNW 4.0 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS (KC9RVL) YORKTOWN 1.2 NNW 4.0 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS ...FOUNTAIN COUNTY... COVINGTON 0.4 WNW 4.0 IN 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS ...HAMILTON COUNTY... WESTFIELD 1.4 ESE 5.5 IN 0800 AM 02/01 COCORAHS MCCORDSVILLE 2.6 NE 3.8 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS FISHERS 1.1 N 3.7 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS CARMEL 1.5 W 3.5 IN 0800 AM 01/31 COCORAHS FISHERS 4.3 ENE 3.0 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS FORTVILLE 1.5 NW 3.0 IN 0800 AM 01/31 COCORAHS ...HANCOCK COUNTY... GREENFIELD 2.4 W 5.0 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS NEW PALESTINE 1.2 NW 4.0 IN 0800 AM 01/31 COCORAHS GREENFIELD 2.4 W 3.5 IN 0630 AM 01/31 COCORAHS ...HENDRICKS COUNTY... BROWNSBURG 0.8 NNW 5.1 IN 0630 AM 02/01 COCORAHS BROWNSBURG 4.6 S 4.8 IN 0600 AM 02/01 COCORAHS AVON 1.6 NNW 4.2 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS BROWNSBURG 4.6 S 4.0 IN 0600 AM 01/31 COCORAHS AVON 1.6 NNW 3.5 IN 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS PLAINFIELD 1.1 W 3.5 IN 0815 AM 01/31 COCORAHS CLAYTON 0.4 WNW 3.0 IN 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS ...HENRY COUNTY... NEW CASTLE 2.4 SW 3.7 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS 2.4 SW NEW CASTLE 3.7 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COOP ...HOWARD COUNTY... (KC9IYD)KOKOMO 4.0 WNW 8.5 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS 2.5 W KOKOMO 8.3 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COOP KOKOMO 4.6 ESE 5.5 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS (K9VEZ)INDIAN HEIGHTS 3.6 W 5.0 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS (K9VEZ)INDIAN HEIGHTS 3.6 W 4.5 IN 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS ...JOHNSON COUNTY... FRANKLIN 1 W 5.3 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COOP GREENWOOD 4.9 SW 4.5 IN 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS GREENWOOD 2.6 W 4.3 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS FRANKLIN 4.8 SSE 4.0 IN 0800 AM 02/01 COCORAHS GREENWOOD 2.1 ESE 3.8 IN 0745 AM 01/31 COCORAHS 1.8 SE FRANKLIN 3.0 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COOP FRANKLIN 4.8 SSE 3.0 IN 0800 AM 01/31 COCORAHS ...MADISON COUNTY... ANDERSON 4.0 N 4.3 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS SUMMITVILLE 7.0 IN 0917 AM 01/31 ANDERSON 2.0 S 3.6 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS ...MARION COUNTY... INDIANAPOLIS 3.2 S 4.8 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS CASTLETON 1.7 S 4.8 IN 1159 PM 01/31 COCORAHS SPEEDWAY 6.2 SSW 4.5 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS INDIANAPOLIS 9.8 WNW 3.2 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS ...MORGAN COUNTY... BROOKLYN 0.5 ENE 4.6 IN 0810 AM 02/01 COCORAHS MOORESVILLE 3.8 NE 4.4 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS ...PARKE COUNTY... ROCKVILLE 3.0 IN 0530 PM 01/31 COOP ...PUTNAM COUNTY... CLOVERDALE 3.5 W 3.3 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS ...RANDOLPH COUNTY... (KC9FXU) WINCHESTER 2.2 WSW 5.0 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS (K9UZZ) SARATOGA 3.4 WNW 4.0 IN 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS MODOC 0.1 W 3.0 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS (K9EKP) PARKER CITY 0.3 NE 3.0 IN 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS ...SHELBY COUNTY... MORRISTOWN 3.5 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COOP 0.9 W SHELBYVILLE 3.1 IN 0800 AM 02/01 COOP ...TIPPECANOE COUNTY... WEST LAFAYETTE 5.9 N 9.2 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS LAFAYETTE 2.2 NE 7.8 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS WEST LAFAYETTE 1.0 NNW 7.1 IN 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS LAFAYETTE 2.2 S 6.8 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS LAFAYETTE 2.2 S 6.0 IN 0700 AM 01/31 COCORAHS 4.7 W WEST LAFAYETTE 6.0 IN 0800 AM 01/31 COOP WEST LAFAYETTE 5.3 IN 0830 AM 01/31 TRAINED SPOTTER WEST LAFAYETTE 1.1 NW 5.2 IN 0900 AM 01/31 COCORAHS ...TIPTON COUNTY... ATLANTA 4.4 W 6.2 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS 5.1 SE GOLDSMITH 5.5 IN 0600 AM 01/31 COOP (K9WKK)TIPTON 1.3 NW 5.0 IN 0700 AM 02/01 COCORAHS ...VERMILLION COUNTY... 0.7 SW GESSIE 4.0 IN 0610 AM 02/01 COOP ...WARREN COUNTY... 0.9 SW PENCE 3.0 IN 0700 AM 01/31 COOP OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURES. WE THANK ALL VOLUNTEER WEATHER OBSERVERS FOR THEIR DEDICATION. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.
Environment
Forcing associated with an upper through and a surface low brought the snow to central Indiana.
Figure 1: Surface Pressure and Pressure Falls at 7:00 PM EST | Figure 2: 850mb Analysis at 7:00 PM EST | Figure 3: 500mb Analysis at 7:00 PM EST |
Some instability developed and allowed stronger bands of snow to move across the area. Lightning strikes were recorded in Marion and Hamilton Counties during the evening..
Figure 4: 850-700mb Equivalent Potential Vorticity and 850mb Frontogenesis at 7pm. Negative values of EPV indicate instability. | Figure 5: Radar at 7 PM EST showing a heavy band of snow approaching Indianapolis. | Figure 6: Plot of Lightning Strike in Marion County (blue dash) |
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