Winter in Indiana is pretty unpredictable. One moment you’re strolling around in shorts and a tee shirt and the next you’re stuck inside because of a crazy ice storm. While you can’t rely on consistent weather for this Midwestern state, you can rely on the fact that if we get snow, this will likely be the snowiest city in the state. What is the average snowfall in South Bend Indiana? Read more to find out! What are your favorite things about winter? Let us know!

South Bend, Indiana is no stranger to rough winters.
Nathan Rupert/Flickr
As a matter of fact, this northern Indiana city gets the most snowfall in the state, receiving an average of around 66.8 inches throughout the year.
It's no surprise when you consider South Bend's location near the Great Lakes, the largest group of U.S. freshwater lakes, which contribute to surrounding cities' high amounts of snow.
Jeremy Osterhouse/Facebook
Lake Effect snow is not unheard of in this region ... or uncommon.
When cold air from Canada sweeps over the still-warm Great Lakes, bands of snow are built and the moisture is spread across the surrounding cities, leaving South Bend wide open for the whitest of winters.
Amanda Govaert/Flickr
Some winters it seems like South Bend will never thaw. It always does, but... sometimes it just feels like it won't ever go away!

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In 2011, South Bend hit a record they hadn't achieved in more than 30 years: they accumulated over 100 inches of snow that winter, which is remarkable even by South Bend standards.
Panegyrics of Granovetter/Flickr
The highest record to date is 172 inches across the 1977-78 winter. Do you remember this crazy snowfall? Did you make the best of it? After all, everyone loves a snow day!
High snowfall events have been known to shut down the city for days, halting transportation and impacting power for hundreds of thousands.
mooninsean/Flickr
While the city prepares for snowstorms in advance, with the unpredictable Great Lakes nearby you never know what's going to happen! Sometimes it gets a little interesting... to say the least.
By the way: the coldest temperature on record for South Bend is -21.1 degrees, and the most snowfall tends to occur in December and January.
mooninsean/Flickr
Winter in Indiana has never been so fluffy and white, that's for sure.

Did you know this was the snowiest city in Indiana? For more fun facts about Indiana winters, read more about this historic ice storm that shut down parts of the Hoosier state.

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Average Snowfall In South Bend Indiana

Tori Jane | December 19, 2022
  1. What is the average snowfall in South Bend Indiana per year?  

South Bend is easily the snowiest town in Indiana, averaging about 64.5 inches per year! Compare this to the national average – 28 inches per year – and you realize it gets almost three times more snow than most places!  

2. What is the average snowfall in Indiana per year? 

The average annual snowfall in Indiana depends on which part of the state you’re referencing; northern Indiana receives more snowfall than southern Indiana, averaging up to 70 inches (or even 80+ on particularly notable years) versus about 15 inches. Of course, there have been some very notable snowstorms in Indiana’s history, like:  

 

3. What is winter in Indiana like?  

Don’t let the cold scare you – winter in Indiana is pretty gosh-darn fun if you ask us. Snow makes it even better! There are lots of things to do during winter in Indiana, some of our favorites being:  

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