Blizzard — Newton, Indiana

2011-02-01 to 2011-02-02 · Newton, Indiana

Event narrative

A 17 year old male driver and his 43 year old male passenger were both killed when their car pulled into the path of a semitrailer on Indiana 10 near County Road 558 East.

Wider weather episode

A powerful and enormous winter storm moved across northwest Indiana with blizzard conditions across much of the area which paralayzed the region. Heavy snow began falling during the early afternoon. This snow quickly reduced visibilities to less than a mile and grew heavier by the evening rush hour, when several inches of snow had already accumulated. Winds also steadily increased during the afternoon hours with heavy snow and low visibilities creating blizzard conditions during the evening hours and lasting into the afternoon hours of February 2nd.

Hundreds of motorists and their vehicles became stranded during the evening hours as conditions deteroiated and snow quickly accumulated. Many communities began assisting stranded motorists using plow trucks and many police officers began riding with plow truck drivers to repond to emergency calls because their cars were getting stuck in the snow. Many communities also had plow trucks escort ambulances and fire trucks. Other rescue personel used snowmobiles to repond to emergency calls.

During the height of the storm from the evening of February 1st into the morning of February 2nd, many communities pulled their plow trucks off the roads out of concern for the safety of their drivers. Many communities declared roads closed to traffic with little hope of a rescue for anyone who ventured out into the blizzard and needed help. Whether roads were officially closed or not, most were impassible.

The high winds also blew down tree limbs and power lines causing numerous power outages. The roof of a steel company collasped in Griffith due to the heavy snow. Mail delivery and garbage collection was postponed in many areas on February 2nd.

Some of the highest snowfall totals included 20.8 inches in Highland; 20.4 inches two miles west southwest of Schererville; 19.7 inches one mile southwest of DeMotte; 19.5 inches one mile east southeast of Portage; 19.0 inches two miles west southwest of Crown Point; 18.9 inches four miles northeast of Hebron; 17.0 inches four miles east of Chesterton; 15.3 inches in Lowell; 13.6 inches two miles northwest of Valparaiso and 10.4 inches in Rensselaer.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 282015. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.