An Alberta clipper will bring lake effect snow downwind of the Great Lakes, with the highest snow totals downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario. Snow squalls may impact New Year's Eve travel during the evening and overnight hours across parts of the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and Northeast. Heavy rain will bring a flash flooding threat for southern California on New Year's Eve into New Year's Day. Read More >
Overview
Beginning during the early morning hours on 15 November, a wintry mix of freezing rain, sleet, and snow spread northward through the area. Southern parts of Ohio and Indiana were also impacted by this storm. In our area, 1-3 inches of snow was observed in northwest Indiana. Lesser amounts were found in eastern Indiana and northwest Ohio. An ice storm warning was issued in those locations as freezing rain and sleet were expected to move in. Ice accretions of 0.10-0.25" were reported.
This storm resulted in some school closings, delays, and treacherous travel for the Thursday morning commute.
Photos & Video:
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| Ice downed this tree branch in New Castle, IN. Nearly full foliage created a large surface for ice accretion. (Aaron Boyer) |
Ice accretion on the campus of Ball State in Muncie, IN. (Maggie Warren) |
The combination of ice and wind resulted in this impressive photo from Millhousen, IN. (Betty F) |
About 3/16" of ice accretion was observed in Columbus Grove, OH. (Geddy Davis) |
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| Icy vehicles were common in the region with this storm; Bluffton, IN included. (John Tinney) |
Nearly 3" of snow fell in La Porte, IN. (Joseph Vorrier III) |
Snow was the dominant precipitation type in locations such as South Bend, IN. (Tyler Sebree) |
Our office in Syracuse, IN, saw a mixed bag of precipitation through the event. (Megan Dodson) |
Radar:
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| This radar loop runs from about 3 AM to 9 AM EST. |
Storm Reports
Click to view the storm reports on a map.
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA 851 PM EST THU NOV 15 2018 ...SNOWFALL REPORTS THROUGH 9 PM EST 15 NOVEMBER 2018... LOCATION AMOUNT TIME/DATE LAT/LON ...INDIANA... ...ELKHART COUNTY... NAPPANEE 2.2 IN 1123 AM 11/15 41.45N/85.99W GOSHEN 1.3 IN 1105 AM 11/15 41.58N/85.84W NAPPANEE 1.3 IN 0845 AM 11/15 41.45N/85.98W ...FULTON COUNTY... AKRON 1.0 IN 1146 AM 11/15 41.04N/86.03W 2 NW ROCHESTER 0.6 IN 0700 AM 11/15 41.09N/86.23W ...KOSCIUSKO COUNTY... LAKE WAWASEE 0.7 IN 0800 AM 11/15 41.41N/85.70W 1 NNW WARSAW 0.6 IN 0818 AM 11/15 41.25N/85.86W ...LA PORTE COUNTY... LA PORTE 2.8 IN 0338 PM 11/15 41.61N/86.71W LA PORTE 2.3 IN 0915 AM 11/15 41.61N/86.71W 2 W HANNA 2.0 IN 0900 AM 11/15 41.41N/86.81W 2 WSW SPRINGVILLE 1.0 IN 0735 AM 11/15 41.67N/86.78W 1 SW LA PORTE 0.9 IN 0800 AM 11/15 41.59N/86.73W 1 SW LA PORTE 0.9 IN 0800 AM 11/15 41.59N/86.73W ...MARSHALL COUNTY... PLYMOUTH 2.5 IN 0925 AM 11/15 41.35N/86.31W ...PULASKI COUNTY... 3 WNW DENHAM 2.5 IN 0800 AM 11/15 41.17N/86.76W FRANCESVILLE 1.5 IN 0900 AM 11/15 40.98N/86.89W ...ST. JOSEPH COUNTY... 1 E INDIAN VILLAGE 3.1 IN 0102 PM 11/15 41.71N/86.21W 2 W OSCEOLA 2.0 IN 1215 PM 11/15 41.66N/86.12W MISHAWAKA 1.5 IN 0156 PM 11/15 41.67N/86.17W 2 NW SOUTH BEND 1.5 IN 1147 AM 11/15 41.70N/86.30W ...STARKE COUNTY... 1 NNW KNOX 2.0 IN 0800 AM 11/15 41.31N/86.63W 1 SSW NORTH JUDSON 1.0 IN 0747 AM 11/15 41.21N/86.78W 2 NNE OAK GROVE 1.0 IN 0736 AM 11/15 41.31N/86.48W ...STEUBEN COUNTY... 1 E SALEM CENTER 1.5 IN 0455 PM 11/15 41.59N/85.11W ...OHIO... ...PUTNAM COUNTY... OTTAWA 1.5 IN 0344 PM 11/15 41.02N/84.04W ...VAN WERT COUNTY... VAN WERT 1.0 IN 0210 PM 11/15 40.87N/84.58W ...FREEZING RAIN REPORTS THROUGH 9 PM EST 15 NOVEMBER 2018... LOCATION AMOUNT TIME/DATE LAT/LON ...INDIANA... ...ALLEN COUNTY... 4 NE ROLLING HILLS 0.15 IN 0800 AM 11/15 41.07N/85.22W 2 NW FORT WAYNE 0.12 IN 1030 AM 11/15 41.10N/85.17W 3 NW FORT WAYNE 0.10 IN 0700 AM 11/15 41.10N/85.18W ...HUNTINGTON COUNTY... 1 ENE HUNTINGTON 0.15 IN 0738 AM 11/15 40.89N/85.48W ...WELLS COUNTY... BLUFFTON 0.25 IN 0845 AM 11/15 40.74N/85.17W ...OHIO... ...ALLEN COUNTY... BLUFFTON 0.25 IN 0355 PM 11/15 40.89N/83.89W ...PUTNAM COUNTY... COLUMBUS GROVE 0.20 IN 0907 AM 11/15 40.92N/84.06W ...VAN WERT COUNTY... VAN WERT 0.20 IN 1106 AM 11/15 40.87N/84.58W VAN WERT 0.14 IN 0907 AM 11/15 40.86N/84.58W OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURES. WE THANK ALL VOLUNTEER WEATHER OBSERVERS FOR THEIR DEDICATION. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL. $$ BROWN
Environment
A deepening upper-level low tracked northeastward from the mid-Mississippi River Valley early Thursday morning. This storm featured sufficient rising air in the upper-levels and ample mid-level moisture. Large snowflakes and efficient precipitation rates were reported due to the aforementioned ingredients. Warm air was being drawn in from the south which resulted in freezing rain and sleet.
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| 300 mb, 7 AM: A well-developed low is evident. The magenta represents divergence. Divergence promotes rising motion in the atmosphere and can promote heavy precipitation rates. | 700 mb, 7 AM: Relative humidity of 70% or more is shaded. This moisture was critical in overcoming an initial dry air mass that was in place. The moisture plume is evident on satellite images below. | 925 mb, 7 AM: Winds along the IN-OH state line are blowing from the southeast. As indicated by the red lines, these winds brought warm air to low levels of the atmosphere allowing for a wintry mix. |
Satellite and water vapor imagery was mesmerizing with this feature. A "baroclinic leaf" can be seen in the green, colder, cloud tops. This leaf is an indicator of frontogenesis, which is the formation of a frontal zone separating two air masses. The contrast between cold air at the surface and warm air in the lowest 3,000-6,000 feet resulted in mixed precipitation.
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| Visible Satellite 9:30 AM: This image shows the low pressure system over the southern IN-IL line. An area of banded precipitation is evident from northern KY to northwest IN. | Low-Level Water Vapor, 8:30 AM: The yellow colors show dry air being wrapped into the center of the low. The green represents a moisture-rich atmosphere. | Mid-Level Water Vapor, 8:30 AM: This is a view slightly higher in altitude than the preceding image. |
Two model-derived soundings display a vertical view of the atmosphere. Through this lens, warm air can be seen in the lowest 3,000-6,000 feet of the atmosphere. As snow fell through this layer, it melted, which resulted in freezing rain and sleet.
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| 12Z NAM Forecast Sounding near Lima, OH: This shows the lowest 10,000 ft of the atmosphere. In the magenta, note that the temperature (red line) rises above freezing (0°C, blue line). This warming resulted in sleet and freezing rain. | Same as the preceding image, but showing the entire atmosphere with pressure in millibars (Y axis). | Surface Map and Infrared Satellite, 7 AM: Snow is observed over northwest IN, while sleet and freezing rain are observed in eastern IN and northwest OH. The coldest cloud tops are in green and yellow. |
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