INDIANA — A foot of snow falling from a single winter storm in Indiana is uncommon, but historical weather data show that it is possible in January under the right conditions.
Indiana sits in a region that can be influenced by multiple winter weather patterns, including strong low-pressure systems tracking across the Midwest, Arctic air intrusions from Canada, and moisture drawn north from the Gulf of Mexico. When these elements align, snowfall rates can become intense and prolonged, allowing totals to quickly accumulate.
Records from the National Weather Service show that Indiana has experienced numerous January storms producing 10 to 15 inches of snow, particularly during powerful winter cyclones. These systems can generate several hours of moderate to heavy snowfall, sometimes exceeding one inch per hour. When such snowfall persists for 8 to 12 hours or longer, accumulations can approach or exceed one foot.
Lake-effect snow can also contribute to high totals in northern Indiana. While lake-effect events often occur as multiple snow showers over several days, there have been instances where a single, well-organized band produced near-foot snowfall amounts in less than 24 hours during January.
Cold air is another key factor. January temperatures in Indiana are often cold enough to support all snow rather than rain or mixed precipitation. This allows storms to maximize snowfall totals instead of being reduced by melting or changing precipitation types.
Although a one-foot snowfall from a single storm does not happen every winter, historical data confirm that Indiana’s climate is capable of producing such an event. Past storms demonstrate that when sufficient moisture, cold air, and storm strength combine, a foot of snow in one January storm is a realistic — though infrequent — outcome.
