Major Snowstorms in Central Indiana from the Past Decade

INDIANAPOLIS — This week marks Winter Weather Preparedness Week. In recent winters, Indianapolis and central Indiana have experienced a noticeable absence of significant snowstorms.

Last year, the National Weather Service revised the criteria for issuing winter storm watches and warnings. For much of central Indiana, the issuance of these alerts is triggered when there is a forecast for 5 inches or more of snow.

Snowstorms with 5+ Inches in the Last Decade

Since the winter season of 2014-15, Indianapolis has recorded seven instances of snowstorms delivering 5 inches or more. Notably, during the winter of 2013-14, there were five such events.

The most recent significant snowfall occurred from February 3 to 4, 2022, when a total of 7.3 inches blanketed the area over two days.

The largest snowstorm on record for Indianapolis took place on March 24, 2018, resulting in an impressive accumulation of 10.2 inches.

Interestingly, many of our most substantial snowfalls over the past decade have not aligned with our typical peak snowfall months. December and January are generally expected to bring the highest amounts based on climate data from 1991 to 2020. However, recent patterns indicate that major snowstorms are increasingly occurring later in the winter season.