INDIANA – The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for all of central Indiana from Thursday afternoon until Friday night.
Slick and hazardous travel is likely. Stay off the roads if you can and keep the winter safety kit in your car if you need to drive.
Thursday starts mainly dry and somewhat mild, as temperatures hover in the lower 30s and a few spotty rain showers. By mid-afternoon, rain turns steadier, as the arctic front approaches from the west, while temperatures hold in the upper 30s.
By 4 p.m. Thursday, snow pushes into central Indiana. A quick change-over will reduce visibility quickly from west to east, as snow intensity increases in coverage. Along with snow falling, winds will be increasing and temperatures will begin to slip aggressively.
Between 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., the weather worsens with whiteout conditions, snow-covered roads, howling winds, and plummeting temperatures. Avoid travel during this time, as conditions could create multiple accidents.
Overnight through sunrise Friday morning, snow will still be falling, as winds remain strong and temperatures/wind chills turn brutal/dangerous. This shock in the air will create powdery snow that will make it more difficult to treat on area roads while being much easier to blow around creating blizzard-like conditions.
Snow will begin to taper by sunrise with up to 4 or more inches on the ground, as winds and harsh temperatures remain all day Friday, with white-out conditions. Snowfall amounts remain the greatest question on exactly how much could fall. This number could easily go up or down with new data.
Hoosiers are encouraged to stay off the roads beginning Thursday evening and through the weekend unless travel is essential. Give road crews the time and space to remove snow and ice from the roadways safely.
The Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) monitors inclement weather 24/7 and works with emergency managers to gather real-time information as the weather develops.
The IDHS website is an essential resource for Hoosiers. It houses the Get Prepared webpage that has critical tips for people to prepare for winter weather and what to do during the storm. Indiana 211 can provide information on warming centers in your community.
The Travel Advisory Map is active on the IDHS homepage. County emergency management agencies update this map to show the travel status of each county.
As this weather approaches, know that IDHS is tracking the weather and has the information people need to stay safe this holiday weekend.
