About the National Weather Service Office
in Indianapolis Indiana

Smaller Picture of NWS

The National Weather Service Forecast Office at Indianapolis serves 39 counties of Central Indiana, carrying out the NWS mission of protecting life and property. To that end, our office issues weather and flood warnings, public forecasts, and advisories. The office is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days per year to serve the citizens of Central Indiana. Learn more about our staff. Detailed information of our office's history can be found at this timeline, and detailed information about the city of Indianapolis can be found below.

IND's county warning area

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About our Staff

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis consists of the following positions:

  • Meteorologist in Charge
  • Science and Operations Officer
  • Warning Coordination Meteorologist
  • Observation Program Leader
  • Service Hydrologist
  • Five Senior Forecasters
  • Five General Forecasters
  • Information Technology Officer
  • Two Electronics Technicians
  • Electronic Systems Analyst
  • Three Meteorologist Interns
  • A Hydro-Meteorological Technician
  • Administrative Assistant

The staff includes 16 degreed meteorologists, ten of which have earned a Master of Science Degree in Meteorology. The meteorological staff has a total of over 100 years of forecasting experience, while the management staff totals 90 years experience. In addition, the Service Hydrologist has a Bachelor's Degree from Penn State University, and he has nearly 40 years of experience forecasting floods, drought, and climate in Indiana.

 Here are the schools our staff attended to obtain their degrees:

  • Purdue University
  • Penn State University
  • University of Oklahoma
  • Saint Louis University
  • University of Wisconsin
  • Valparaiso University
  • Colorado State University
  • University of Missouri
  • The Ohio State University
  • State University of New York Oswego
  • North Carolina State University
  • University of Illinois
  • Northern Illinois University
  • Florida State University
  • University of North Dakota

 About Indianapolis

Known as the “Crossroads of America”, Indianapolis is located at the center of Indiana and is the state capital. As of the 2000 census, the city of Indianapolis had a population of over 781,000, which makes it the nations 13th largest city. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Area, consisting of Indianapolis and surrounding suburbs, has a population of well over a million. The NWS office is located about 7 miles southwest of downtown, near the Indianapolis International Airport.

Climate of Indianapolis

Indianapolis experiences 4 distinct seasons during a year, from cold winters to warm and humid summers. During January the average high temperature is about 35 degrees with an average low of 19. During July the average high is 82 degrees with an average low of 65. The highest temperature ever recorded at Indianapolis is 107 degrees, and the coldest is -27 degrees. The city sees an average of 27 inches of snow per year and about 41 inches of precipitation per year.

Indianapolis Skyline Day

Indianapolis Attractions

Commonly referred to as the "Racing Capital of the World," Indianapolis hosts the two largest single-day sporting events in the world: the Indianapolis 500 and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. Indianapolis is also home to several professional sports teams, including:  the Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever, Indianapolis Colts, Indianapolis Indians, and the Indianapolis Ice. The auto racing occurs at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, while the most other teams listed all play in venues near downtown.

Downtown Indianapolis is home to the Indianapolis Zoo, White River Gardens, and the Indiana State Museum. Not far from downtown are the Indianapolis Museum of Art, one of the largest general art museums in the country, and the Children’s Museum, the world’s largest children’s museum with hands on exhibits..  Other attractions in the Indianapolis area include the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and the Connor Prairie interactive history park.

For those who like to shop, destinations such as the downtown Circle Centre mall, the Fashion Mall, or the Broad Ripple area offer a variety of places to indulge.

Central Indiana is home to several state parks, most within a couple of hour drive of Indianapolis. These include Brown County State Park, Mounds State Park, and Turkey Run State Park.

Education

The Indianapolis Metro Area has several public school systems along with a variety of private schools. Higher education schools located in Indianapolis include but are not limited to: Butler University, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Marian University, and the University of Indianapolis. Other universities located with Central Indiana include Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana University in Bloomington, and Purdue University in West Lafayette.

Indy Skyline at Night

Transportation

The Indianapolis International Airport currently offers travel on 11 airlines to numerous destinations. Interstate highways 65, 69, 70, and 74 all serve the Indianapolis area. The IndyGo bus service provides public transportation around the city. Note that no public transportation is available to the NWS office location.

Housing

The median price of a new home in the Indianapolis area is approximately $125,000 (2003 data from US Census).  The median rent for an apartment is approximately $650 (2003 data from US Census).

Taxes

Indiana has a 3.4% income tax, with counties taking out an additional income tax. Indiana sales taxes are 7%, with some counties adding additional sales taxes. More information on Indiana tax rates can be found at the Indiana Department of Revenue site.

Links to learn more about Indianapolis and Central Indiana:

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