Independence Day always makes me reflect on America’s amazing forefathers. When it comes to weather, Ben Franklin’s the famous flashy guy flying his kite in the storm. But the National Weather Service sometimes claims another revolutionary icon as the first weather watcher. Thomas Jefferson kept a consistent record of his weather observations, in America, and […]
Thomas Jefferson, Frontier Weatherman
Independence Day always makes me reflect on America’s amazing forefathers. When it comes to weather, Ben Franklin’s the famous flashy guy flying his kite in the storm. But the National Weather Service sometimes claims another revolutionary icon as the first weather watcher. Thomas Jefferson kept a consistent record of his weather observations, in America, and […]
Super Outbreak Of 1974
Two weather-related things I remember from the 70s. The Blizzard of 78, and the Super Outbreak on this date in 1974. The numbers are grim – 147 tornadoes, 310 lives lost, and over 5,400 people injured. One deadly twister after another April 3-4, 1974. Click here for an Indiana-based summary. Click here for Xenia, Ohio-specific […]
Indy 500 Weather History
Weather has completely postponed the Indy 500 three times. The first was back in 1915. They postponed that one the day before because it had been so wet. It was completed on Monday. A completed rainout didn’t happen again until 1986, when the race was cancelled in the morning. The next day was also washed […]
Super Tornado Outbreak: 45 Years Ago Today
There were 148 tornadoes that occurred in a 24 hour period from 1:00 PM EST April 3rd to 1:00 PM EST on April 4 th. The combined path length of all tornadoes during this period was approximately 2500 miles with 315+ fatalities, over 5000 injuries, and an estimated $600+ million loss (in 1974 dollars). Not […]
Second Longest Indiana Tornado On Record
Exactly 15 years ago we were tracking the state’s second longest-lived tornado. Remember? Click here for a complete review of the day via the National Weather Service in Indy.
Hurricanes And Indiana
Remnants of tropical systems don’t hold up well in the westward hike over the Appalachian Mountains. There’s not much chance of any big “Irma” leftovers for us in Indiana. Our biggest tropical threats tend to have arrived via Texas or Louisiana. A good example is Hurricane Ike from back in 2008: Look at the visible […]
Indy 500 Weather History
Weather has completely postponed the Indy 500 three times. The first was back in 1915. They postponed that one the day before because it had been so wet. It was completed on Monday. A completed rainout didn’t happen again until 1986, when the race was cancelled in the morning. The next day was also washed […]
Indiana Tornado Anniversary
So far this season: below-normal severe stuff across the nation. This would be the fourth *relatively* quiet year in a row. There are exceptions, of course, like the November 2013 tornadoes here, but the last really bad year nationally was 2011. On this date in that year…3 tornadoes in central Indiana. Click here for the […]
The Blizzard Of 78
January 25-27, 1978. If your parents were Hoosiers, and you’re about 37 years old…hmm…maybe you can blame it on The Blizzard. Still the most disruptive Indiana winter storm I’ve lived through. (Wouldn’t mind if it stays that way.) Click here for stories from the Blizzard, and here for an NWS review from Indy, and here […]
Here’s How Much Snow Was On The Ground Two Years Ago Today
Remember The Polar Vortex? Wind chills of 30 below, a foot of snow on the ground? Click here for a larger size map, plus the National Weather Service recap of the event. Click here for some of my coverage from two years ago. Click here for some throwback video coverage on what was the 13th […]
Maybe This Is Why You Expect A White Christmas
