When does the first snow normally fall in Indianapolis? – Indianapolis News | Weather Indiana | Indiana traffic

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Halloween in central Indiana will look a lot different than last year.

During two of the last five Halloweens, Indianapolis had some of the first snowflakes of the year that weren’t measurable on the ground. This might make you curious about when our typical first snowfall is. History gives us an idea.

First snow statistics

According to 1991-2020 climate averages, Indianapolis has a normal first measurable snow date of November 24.

Last year it took quite a wait before the snow actually stuck to the ground and was considered measurable. Indy had nothing measurable until December 31, which is one of the last first snowfalls on record.

At least an inch of snow is where we normally see the greatest impact of any system. From 1991 to 2020, the average date of first snowfall greater than or equal to 1 inch from a single system was December 8.

Many will remember the surprise early season snowfall of October 1989, which exceeded 9 inches. October 18, 1989, holds the distinction of having the earliest measurable snow on record. Meanwhile, October 19, 1989 is our first snowstorm of an inch or greater according to records going back to the 1880s.

There hasn’t been a single winter where Indianapolis didn’t have a snowstorm that brought 1″+, but some years it was close. The winter of 1972-73 did not see the first 1″+ of a system until March 17, 1973.

You can always find the latest forecast by visiting our weather blog here.