INDIANA — Indiana residents familiar with winter know that snow can fall in January — but just how likely is measurable snowfall during that month? Here’s a clear, factual explanation based on historical climate records and averages.
Across Indiana — from northern cities near Lake Michigan to central and southern portions of the state — winter precipitation includes both snow and rain. Historically, January falls well within the typical snow season, which spans roughly from late November through early April. Snow in January isn’t unusual: based on long-term climate records for Indianapolis, measurable snow in January is common.
In Indianapolis specifically, National Weather Service climate normals (1991–2020) show that January averages about 8.8 inches of snow. That’s more than in December or February at that location, indicating that January has historically been one of the snowier months of the winter.
Other sources show typical January snowfall amounts also vary year to year — with light years seeing as little as about 3 inches and heavier snow years exceeding 12 inches in January alone.
Snow does not fall every day, but measurable snowfall (commonly defined as at least 0.1 inch) does occur often enough in January that Indiana communities generally plan for it. In Indianapolis, for example, local data indicates measurable snow on dozens of days each winter season, and this includes January as part of the peak snow months.
Across the state, northern Indiana tends to see even more snow than central and southern parts, largely due to occasional lake-effect snow from Lake Michigan.
Records also show that measurable snow typically begins earlier in the winter — often in late November or December — underscoring that snow is well established by January. Average dates for first measurable snow in central Indiana generally fall in early to mid-December, though the specific date can vary widely year to year.
All of this historical data points to a real possibility of measurable snowfall in Indiana in January:
- Historical averages show January usually brings measurable snow.
- Variability across years means some Januaries are snowier than others, but snow is common enough that it’s part of Indiana’s winter climate.
- Snowfall can vary significantly by location within the state, with northern areas often seeing more than southern ones.
This doesn’t represent a forecast for a specific January — rather it describes the likelihood based on past climate patterns, which show measurable snowfall as a typical part of Indiana winters in January.
