Revisiting record-breaking October 1989 snow in Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — October is not generally a time in which Hoosiers think about wintry weather.

Instead, Hoosiers are focused on those crisp and cool fall days as they transition toward the overall winter season.

However, a big gift of snow made its way to Indiana’s doorstep in mid-October 1989 over a span of three days.

The lead-up to this snow event was rather bewildering due to the fact that on Oct. 16, 1989, portions of south central Indiana dealt with severe thunderstorms. Two days later on Oct. 18, Indianapolis was receiving its earliest recorded snowfall to date with 0.2 inches. The average date of the first measurable snowfall here in Indy is Nov. 19, and we were only just getting started.

An intense upper-level low pressure system sat over the Missouri bootheel. The system enabled warm and moist air to rise into the Indiana area and override colder surface air that was occurring. By 7 a.m. EST Oct. 19, from 5-6 inches of snow had already fallen across portions of central Indiana. The heavy, wet snow gave way to an issue with large accumulations being noticed on power lines and trees. This caused scattered power outages to transpire.

Overall, Oct. 19 was the big day of the snow event.

By the time the system left the area, Indianapolis wound up with a lofty 9.3 inches from the entirety of the event. Kokomo got in on the most snow overall with a staggering 10.5 inches. Other locations — Hartford City, 5 inches; Cloverdale, 5.5 inches; and Noblesville, 8 inches — also received a bit of snow.

To put this event into perspective, October 1989 was quite the rarity in terms of October snow. Compared to the snowiest October’s on record, 1989 is No. 1 by miles. Indianapolis’s snowiest months are December, January and February.

The 1989 system also gave way to fairly cold temperatures with Indianapolis recording the lowest high temperature for Oct. 19 on record, with a high of only 35.