No big storms any time soon after the biggest snow storm in nearly four years. Indy’s official total was 7.5 inches.
The last time the office measured more snow was on January 28, 2009, when 12.6 inches fell. The biggest event LAST winter (2011-2012) was a 2.3 inch snowfall between Christmas and New Years 2011. Small potatoes!
Big snows were fairly scarce also in the Winters Of 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. Indy recorded 6.4 inches on February 17, 2010 and 5.1 inches on January 13, 2011
The season snow total is now 9.7 inches. LAST winter’s ENTIRE season total? 9.8.
The heaviest snow in central Indiana fell to the south. I saw several reports of a foot in Monroe and Morgan county. Amounts were around 10 inches in Johnson County, but closer to 6 inches in Hamilton County on average. Lafayette, Kokomo and Marion were all closer to 4 inches.
Light snow or snow showers are possible Friday afternoon and evening, and at the end of/beginning of this year/next year.
So: was yesterday’s storm really a blizzard?
Facebook friend Susan Powell wrote: “I would like to know why this has been called a blizzard instead of just a bad snow?”
She’s probably not the only one confused. It isn’t necessarily a function of how much snow falls. The standard definition of a blizzard is:
Winds of at least 35 mph (frequent gusts are generally considered to qualify), and visibility reduced by falling and/or blowing snow to less than 1/4 mile. The strict application is for the wind and visibility criteria to be met for at least three consecutive hours.
It was in anticipation of those conditions that the Indy weather service office issued a Blizzard Warning for some (not all) of Central Indiana.
At the Indy Airport the visibility looks like it was a quarter-mile or less for two and a half consecutive hours today, by my unofficial count. Close?
The wind gust criteria does appear to have been satisfied in the late morning.
In other words: it would seem to be a borderline blizzard.
Think of it this way: not every hurricane is Katrina. Closer to home? You can gauge every tornado *against* an EF-5, but if it meets the description, the weather service is still going to call an EF-0 a “tornado” — and not every blizzard is the Blizzard of 1978. That’ll always be may favorite. It got me out of school for a week.
INDY ALMANAC:
The average high today is 36 and the average low is 22. Records are 68 and -7. The sunrise time is 8:05 and the sun sets at 5:28.
PAUL’S PREVIOUS PREDICTION:
Yesterday’s Indy snow accumulation was 7.5 inches. The forecast was “five to ten inches.” Yesterday’s high was 32. The forecast was 32.
UV INDEX:
2 (Low.)
DETAILED INDIANAPOLIS FORECAST:
Today: Mostly cloudy. Wind: N 5-10 mph. High 31.
Tonight: Partly to mostly cloudy. Wind: Light. Low 21.
Friday: Clouding up. Chance of afternoon light snow. High 34.
Friday Night: Chance of light snow. Low 25.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy. High 31.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 17.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 29.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 18.
Monday: Partly cloudy. High 33.
New Years Eve: Chance of snow showers. Low 21.
New Years Day: Mostly cloudy. High 29.
Tuesday Night: Chance of snow showers. Low 19.
Wednesday: Chance of snow showers. High 29.
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