December at Indianapolis will be the coldest in 10 years and is the snowiest in 37 years. Snow was on the ground all over the state for Christmas, and Indianapolis got another 1.6 inches Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. This brought December’s snowfall total at the airport to 16.6 inches. Four inches of snow remained on the ground at the airport on Monday morning.
The month so far is among the coldest of record for December. The average temperature through the 26th was 23.7 degrees. Temperatures will moderate beginning on Tuesday. The average temperature for December will rise and approach 25 degrees… making December the coldest since 2000. The normal average temperature for December is 31.7 degrees.
December 2010 is the 3rd snowiest of record and the most snow for December since 1973. Average monthly snowfall for December is 6.3 inches.
Indianapolis Area Extremes
Coldest Decembers of Record
Years: 1871-2010
Rank Value Ending Date
1 18.5 12/31/1963
2 18.7 12/31/1989
3 19.7 12/31/2000
4 20.1 12/31/1983
5 21.0 12/31/1876
6 22.4 12/31/1985
7 22.8 12/31/1917
8 23.4 12/31/1909, 12/31/1950
10 23.5 12/31/1872
11 23.9 12/31/1945
12 24.2 12/31/1903, 12/31/1958
14 24.3 12/31/1880
15 24.5 12/31/1976, 12/31/1960
17 24.7 12/31/2010 Projected
18 24.9 12/31/1886
Indianapolis Area Extremes
Highest December Total Snowfall (12 inches or more)
Years: 1884-2010
Rank Value Ending Date
1 27.5 12/31/1973
2 21.5 12/31/1895
3 16.6 12/31/2010 through 12/26
4 16.3 12/31/2000
5 15.6 12/31/1981
6 15.2 12/31/1977
7 14.6 12/31/1996
8 14.1 12/31/2005
9 13.1 12/31/2004, 12/31/1915
11 12.9 12/31/1969
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