Indianapolis weather extremes over the 155-year recordkeeping period

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Exactly 155 years ago today, the first official Weather Bureau records were taken in Indianapolis on Feb. 10, 1871.

Later on, the Weather Bureau would become the National Weather Service.

The high temperature was 28 degrees for the day, with no precipitation recorded. Low temperature records did not begin until March 1, 1871.

Indianapolis Weather Extremes over the 155-year history

HOTTEST: Our hottest temperature of 106 degrees was recorded in multiple years, all in July. Those years were 1901, 1934, and 1936.

COLDEST: Many will remember the record cold air of Jan. 19, 1994. Not only was that Indy’s coldest temperature in history at -27 degrees, but New Whiteland achieved the lowest temperature in state history at -36 degrees.

WETTEST DAY: Another weather event recent enough for people to remember. The Labor Day flood of 2003 brought record-breaking rainfall amounts to the state. Indianapolis picked up 7.20 inches on Sept. 1, 2003, alone. Over three days, Indy would get more than 8 inches. This event was one of legendary WISH-TV meteorologist Randy Ollis’ most memorable events he covered.

SNOWIEST DAY: If you asked the majority of residents in central Indiana, their first answer for the snowiest event would be the Blizzard of ’78. But, in Indianapolis, the one-day snow total was greater on March 19, 1906: 12.1 inches.