Does it snow in Indiana?

Does it snow in Indiana? Yes, snow is a recurring weather phenomenon in Indiana winters, especially in the northern half of the state, which experiences cooler temperatures and much heavier snowfall.

A little less than a decade ago, almost all of Indiana was considered a continental climate region, in other words, a region with predominantly cold winters. However, since 2016, the southern half of Indiana has experienced a humid subtropical climate.

Despite this regrettable rise in temperatures, this has not stopped regular snowfall in Indiana, which receives between 14 and 80 inches of snow annually.

Indiana, also known as The Hoosier State, is one of the five states that make up the Northeast Central division of the United States of America.

With its 36,418 square miles of land area and more than six and a half million people, Indiana ranks as the 38th largest state and 17th most populous.

Indiana's highest point is Hoosier Hill, with an elevation of 1,275 feet (383 meters) above sea level, while Indiana's lowest height is at the confluence of the Ohio River and the Wabash River, with an elevation of 320 feet (97 meters).

Index

    Snow in Indiana? ❄

    Frosty farmscape in Northern Indiana.
    Frosty farmscape in Northern Indiana. Flickr.

    In the last ten years, Indiana has experienced a significant increase in temperatures, which has significantly decreased the average annual snowfall in the state. However, due to lake-effect snow in northwestern and central Indiana, snowpack remains at significant levels in these regions.

    Curious fact

    On average, Indiana’s snow and frost period run from late October to early April.

    Unlike tornadoes, snowfall does not usually represent a severe logistic problem for Indiana, which is considered one of the ten most vulnerable states to the onslaught of tornadoes, even though it's not part of Tornado Alley.

    The climate of Indiana ⛅

    INDIANA WEATHER

    General characteristics

    As mentioned at the beginning of this article, Indiana primarily experiences two climate types:

    • Humid subtropical (Köppen, Cfa) in the northern half.
    • Humid continental climate (Köppen, Dfb) in the southern half.

    For this reason, the extreme north and the extreme south of Indiana experience widely varying weather patterns.

    For example, during winter, the mean maximum/minimum temperatures of the far north and far south Indiana typically differ by about 11°F, ranging from 30°F/15°F (far north) to 41°F/ 24 °F (south end).

    During the summer, however, the temperature variation is not usually so accentuated, although it is noticeable enough to be perceived.

    Finally, as far as rainfall behavior is concerned, Indiana can easily be considered both a rainy and a dry state because, although its average rainfall generally ranges between 35 and 45 inches, it tends to experience droughts with some regularity.

    MAP of INDIANA

    Technical characteristics

     

    Some of the following technical characteristics have been calculated by averaging climatological data for the following cities: Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend, Carmel y Fishers. 

    • Climate types (Köppen climate classification):
      • Humid subtropical (Cfa.)
      • Humid continental (Dfb.)
    • Average maximum temperatures in winter: 41.67 °F (5.3 °C.)
    • Average maximum temperatures in spring: 66.96 °F (19.4 °C.)
    • Average maximum temperatures in fall: 57.79 °F (14.3 °C.)
    • Average maximum temperatures in summer: 80.92 °F (27.1 °C.)
    • Average minimum temperatures in winter: 27.04 °F (-2.7 °C.)
    • Average minimum temperatures in spring: 48.38 °F (9.1 °C.)
    • Average minimum temperatures in fall: 41.25 °F (5.1 °C.)
    • Average minimum temperatures in summer: 61.96 °F (16.6 °C.)
    • Average monthly rainfall in winter: 2.04 inches (5.1 cm.)
    • Average monthly rainfall in spring: 3.45 inches (8.7 cm.)
    • Average monthly rainfall in fall: 2.74 inches (6.9 cm.)
    • Average monthly rainfall in summer: 3.28 inches (8.3 cm.)
    • Average monthly snowfall in winter: 3.06 inches (7.7 cm.)
    • Average monthly snowfall in spring: 0.50 inches (1.27 cm.)
    • Average monthly snowfall in fall: 0.88 inches (2.2 cm.)
    • Highest record temperature: 116 °F / 46.6 °C (July, 14, 1936 at Collegeville, Jasper County.)
    • Lowest record temperature: −36 °F / -37.7 °C (January 19, 1994 at New Whiteland, Johnson County.)
    • Average precipitation range per year: 35 – 45 inches (88.9 – 114.3 cm.)
    • Average snowfall range per year: 14 – 80 inches (35.56 – 203.2 cm.)

    When does it snow in Indiana? 🌨

    Snow in Crown Point (Indiana)
    Snow in Crown Point, Indiana (Christmas 2022). Flickr.

    Does it snow in Indiana in October?

    Yes, it might snow in October. Slightly measurable snowfall is possible in fourteen (14) Indiana counties.

    Does it snow in Indiana in November?

    Yes, it does! As of November, all Indiana counties receive light and measurable snowfall.

    Does it snow in Indiana in December?

    Yes, it does! Once winter begins, snowfall peaks in Indiana, reaching levels near or above four inches of accumulation on average in South Bend, Marion, LaGrange, Angola, and Goshen.

    Curious fact

    As far as White Christmas goes, Indiana has experienced such a phenomenon (more than an inch of snow at Christmas) a total of 35 times from 1898 to the present (2022); in other words, there is a 28% chance of enjoying a White Christmas in Indiana.

    Does it snow in Indiana in January?

    Yes, it does! January is the second snowiest month in Indiana, far surpassing December, with levels approaching or exceeding four inches of accumulation on average in more than forty counties.

    Does it snow in Indiana in February?

    Yes, it does! Oddly enough, the average snow accumulation recorded in February is higher than in January (a crucial factor to consider if you want to visit the northern Indiana counties in February)

    Does it snow in Indiana in March?

    Yes, it does! Despite being the last month of winter, the snowfall recorded in Indiana continues to be remarkable; indeed, the levels recorded are similar to those of December.

    Does it snow in Indiana in April?

    Yes, it might snow in April. Although, hopefully, only during the first days of the month.

    Where does it snow in Indiana? 🌨

    Below, we present a map of the territorial division of the state of Indiana in which the distribution of snowfall in the ninety-two counties that make up the state is roughly exemplified:

    Map of the territorial division of the state of Indiana with distribution of snowfall.

    1. In this case, the darker the blue color, the higher the average snow accumulation for the county in its snowiest month (January.)
    2. This map is not an exact definition but rather an approximation of the behavior of snowfall in Indiana since only its administrative centers are taken into account and not all the cities and towns that make up the county at the time of its creation.

    How much does it snow in Indiana? 🌨

    Next, we expose a comparison chart of the average snow accumulation throughout a sliding 31-day period (centered on the day in question) in the eighty-eight county seats of Indiana:

    County seatJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
    Marion4,54,42,70,50000000,53,1
    South Bend4,54,32,30,4000000,10,94,2
    LaGrange4,44,72,60,4000000,10,94
    Angola4,34,830,50000000,94
    Winchester4,34,52,50,40000000,73,5
    Decatur4,34,32,40,40000000,53,4
    Goshen4,34,52,30,3000000,10,83,7
    Portland4,24,32,30,40000000,53,2
    Hartford4,24,22,30,40000000,43,1
    Albion4,14,52,50,4000000,10,73,5
    Bluffton4,14,22,30,40000000,43
    Valparaiso4,14,42,30,30000000,83,6
    Knox4,14,22,20,3000000,10,83,6
    Danville4,14,11,70,2000000,10,63,3
    Columbia City44,22,40,40000000,53,3
    Huntington442,20,40000000,42,8
    Warsaw44,12,10,30000000,63,3
    La Porte4420,30000000,63,6
    Plymouth44,11,90,30000000,63,4
    Lebanon44,11,90,3000000,10,53,2
    Logansport3,93,82,20,40000000,53
    New Castle3,94,32,10,30000000,53,2
    Muncie3,94,22,10,30000000,53,1
    Wabash3,93,720,30000000,42,7
    Rushville3,941,70,2000000,10,53
    Fort Wayne3,842,40,40000000,53,1
    Anderson3,8420,30000000,42,9
    Frankfort3,83,61,90,3000000,10,42,9
    Perú3,83,61,90,30000000,32,7
    Monticello3,83,51,80,30000000,43
    Fowler3,83,71,60,30000000,53,1
    Lafayette3,83,71,60,3000000,10,53
    Crawfordsville3,83,71,60,2000000,10,52,9
    Greencastle3,83,71,50,10000000,43
    Greensburg3,841,40,10000000,53,1
    Washington3,83,61,20,10000000,42,7
    Aubum3,74,12,70,50000000,53,3
    Greenfield3,73,91,60,2000000,10,53,1
    Indianapolis3,73,71,40,20000000,42,9
    Tipton3,63,51,90,30000000,32,6
    Winamac3,63,41,70,30000000,42,8
    Crow Point3,63,81,80,20000000,53,1
    Connersville3,63,81,70,20000000,42,8
    Liberty3,63,81,70,20000000,42,7
    Rensselaer3,63,31,60,20000000,42,9
    Williamsport3,63,51,50,20000000,42,6
    Covington3,63,31,40,20000000,42,5
    Versailles3,64,11,60,10000000,52,9
    Shelbyville3,63,71,30,1000000,10,52,9
    Franklin3,63,71,30,10000000,52,9
    Brazil3,63,31,30,10000000,42,8
    Rockville3,63,31,30,10000000,42,7
    Rockport3,63,31,30,10000000,42,7
    Salem3,63,91,20,10000000,42,6
    Paoli3,63,91,20,10000000,42,5
    Richmond3,53,920,20000000,52,8
    Kentland3,53,31,40,20000000,42,7
    Brookville3,53,71,40,10000000,42,6
    Bloomington3,53,61,30,10000000,42,7
    Shoals3,53,71,20,10000000,42,5
    Kokomo3,431,80,30000000,22,2
    Noblesville3,43,61,70,20000000,42,7
    Nashville3,43,61,20,10000000,42,8
    Newport3,431,20,10000000,32,5
    Terre Haute3,431,10,10000000,32,5
    English3,43,81,100000000,42,3
    Corydon3,43,8100000000,42,2
    Martinsville3,33,51,20,10000000,42,7
    Spencer3,33,31,20,10000000,42,6
    Columbus3,33,410,10000000,42,8
    Vernon3,33,410,10000000,42,7
    Mount Vernon3,33,410,10000000,42,7
    Petersburg3,33,310,10000000,32,4
    Sullivan3,32,810,10000000,32,3
    Bedford3,23,41,10,10000000,32,4
    Rochester3,12,71,20,20000000,22,1
    Bloomfield3,13,11,10,10000000,32,4
    Princeton3,130,90,10000000,32,3
    Tell City3,13,40,900000000,42,1
    Boonville3,13,30,900000000,32,1
    Brownston33,20,900000000,32,4
    Scottsburg2,93,10,900000000,32,2
    Evansville2,930,900000000,32,1
    Vevay2,73100000000,32
    Lawrenceburg2,72,9100000000,22
    Jeffersonville2,72,90,800000000,31,8

    The numbers shown in the table above represent inches.

    Related post → Does it snow in USA?

    Source → WeatherSpark.

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