February 8, 2021 archive

Updated 02.08.21 @ 8:32a

Most of the daytime today will only feature light snow, but don’t let that fool you. With such a cold, arctic airmass in place, even the “light” snow is creating travel issues in spots. Take it slow out there, friends.

A new piece of upper level energy will streak across the region tonight and help snow to become more organized in aerial coverage. A narrow, but efficient band of steadier snow is expected to get going across south-central Indiana around, or just after, sunset. It’s within this snow where we expect several inches of snow to accumulate tonight and early Tuesday morning.

Most of the steady snow will exit to the east before sunrise Tuesday. We’ll then be left with periods of flurries and light snow through the remainder of the day.

Here’s our snowfall forecast with tonight’s system:

Attention will then shift to a “juicier” midweek storm system. An arctic boundary will remain draped to our south while a surface wave rides northeast along the stalled front. This will allow more widespread, heavier precipitation to push into the region (from southwest to northeast) through the morning Wednesday. For a time, moderate to heavy precipitation rates are expected Wednesday evening into Wednesday night. The early call on this system continues to be for an all snow event across central Indiana (where we think 3″ to 6″ of fresh snow is a good bet) with more of a wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain across southern portions of the state as warmer air aloft gets pulled north. Unfortunately, I think even southern portions of the state remain cold at the surface, continuing the threat of an icy glaze vs. a plain ole rain.

Here’s our snowfall forecast for Wednesday and Thursday:

As the snow continues to add up, concern will mount around the issues that will likely come from a blowing and drifting perspective- especially as a fresh arctic intrusion arrives late week. If that wasn’t enough, additional “fun and games” are on the table for the upcoming weekend, followed by the coldest air so far this season (and in some cases in a couple of years).

Stay tuned…