Category: Sleet

Feb 01

Period Of Snow Moving In…

As mentioned below, bust potential was/ is high with today’s forecast.  The further north trends in the NAM and GFS will ultimately trump the normally reliable Canadian and European solutions.  As such, slushy snowfall accumulations will be light (1″-2″) for the city, itself, increasing to between 2″-5″ for northern Indianapolis suburbs (Zionsville, Carmel, Westfield, Noblesville, etc.).  Double digit totals will fall across the northern third of the state.

For the most part, snowfall accumulations will come from this area of precipitation moving through the region.

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Heavy wet snow will likely fall for a period of time, especially from northern portions of Indianapolis and points north late morning into the early afternoon.

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Temperatures will then likely creep up a few degrees through the mid afternoon hours before falling this evening.  Snow will mix with, or change to, snow across central regions this afternoon with the northward track of the low.  Note the stark temperature contrast across the region this evening.

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The week will get off to a cold start as highs Monday only top out in the lower 20s.  Enjoy your Super Bowl Sunday and keep the reports coming!

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2015/02/01/period-of-snow-moving-in/

Jan 30

Weekend Snow Storm…

Screen Shot 2015-01-30 at 7.10.35 AMWeekend Snow Storm On Deck…Scattered snow flurries and snow showers will come to an end this morning with increasing sunshine following.  Despite seeing a little vitamin D this afternoon, it won’t do anything to help us in the temperature department.  In fact, we already experienced our high around midnight.  Temperatures this afternoon will remain in the middle to upper 20s with a gusty wind.

Most of Saturday will be quiet (calm before the storm) with dry conditions and afternoon highs around 40.  Clouds will lower and thicken as we go through the afternoon and evening and snow will develop (rain or a wintry mix down state initially) across central Indiana during the overnight.  Snow will increase in intensity Sunday morning and grow heavy at times during the day as low pressure tracks along the Ohio River (a classic track for central Indiana snow storms).  See our initial accumulation map below, which is still subject to change.  We’ll introduce a gusty east and northeast wind into the mix Sunday evening and night and this will lead to blowing and drifting snow Sunday night.  Stay tuned.

The big story next week will be the cold, but we’re also watching two potential snow makers, as well.  More on that after we deal with Sunday’s snow storm.

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

  • 7-Day Snowfall Forecast: 5″ – 10″
  • 7-Day Rainfall Forecast: Trace

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Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2015/01/30/weekend-snow-storm/

Jan 28

Now This Is More Like It…

Screen Shot 2015-01-28 at 7.30.19 AMMaking Up For Lost Time…Many snow lovers out there have been disappointed by the lack of the white stuff winter to date.  The cool thing is that the next 7-10 days (most likely longer) will offer up multiple opportunities to serve up accumulating snow.

First things first and that’s today- look for bright sunshine and a frosty start.  Temperatures will “warm” to just under seasonal levels this afternoon.  A fast moving storm system will scoot through here late tonight and Thursday morning with light rain, possibly transitioning to light snow showers before precipitation ends Tuesday (not a big deal).  Far eastern areas may experience a brief period of light freezing rain or light sleet during the onset of precipitation, but things should switch over to light rain rather rapidly even for you.  We’ll turn dry and cold to wrap up the work week.

All eyes are on the weekend as a storm system moves towards the region.  We have a ways to go and we’ll have to fine tune the details over the next few days, but this has potential to be the most widespread significant wintry event of the season.  Stay tuned.  MUCH colder air will punch in here early next week and may set the stage for more wintry “mischief” by the middle of next week.

ISRlogo2-280x121IU at Purdue: 9p tonight

Good news is that for those driving to West Lafayette tonight, you should be dealing with dry conditions.  Precipitation chances will begin to go up as we near 11p, or after, for western portions of the state.

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

  • 7-Day Rainfall Forecast: 0.25″
  • 7-Day Snowfall Forecast: 3″ – 6″

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2015/01/28/now-this-is-more-like-it-2/

Jan 12

Turning Colder; Icy Mix To Light Snow Before Ending…

Greatest ice accumulations set up from Indianapolis and points north last night and this morning.  Glaze reached just under one quarter inch here across southern Boone County.

The icy mixture will transition to light snow before ending mid morning.

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Temperatures will also be sliding backwards through the day.  Morning highs in the lower 30s will fall into the 20s this afternoon.

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The big push of arctic air arrives tonight into Tuesday and sets the stage for widespread sub-zero lows Wednesday morning.  Wind chills will, of course, be even colder (10 to 20 below zero).

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We’ll be back later tonight to talk about what lies ahead in the longer term.  Stay safe out there!

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2015/01/12/turning-colder-icy-mix-to-light-snow-before-ending/

Jan 11

Ice Storm Warning…

Freezing rain (initially may be mixed with sleet) overspreads central Indiana between 1p-3p. We advise to get any and all travel done prior to 1p and plan to stay in…

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Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2015/01/11/ice-storm-warning/

Jan 10

Ice Storm For Some Sunday Evening; Late Night Thoughts…

Just a quick update to give you some fresh thoughts on the next winter storm that will impact central Indiana.

We bracket the hours of 1p-3p for the onset of sleet and freezing rain across central Indiana.

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Coverage and intensity of freezing rain will increase as we progress through the evening hours.  We suggest hunkering down at home (or at a loved ones home) for the Colts game, as roadways will likely become hazardous during the game.

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Early data hot off the press this evening is suggesting Ice Storm Warning criteria (freezing rain amounts of 0.25″, or greater) is met through the heart of central Indiana.

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A fresh push of cold, arctic, air will ooze back into central Indiana during the day Monday. We think overnight lows head back into the single digits Tuesday morning and below zero Wednesday morning.  Needless to say, should power outages take place, a nasty situation will develop with the new push of cold air.

Please stay tuned to your favorite media or means of obtaining weather information, as this will be an impactful event for central Indiana tomorrow afternoon into Monday.

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2015/01/10/ice-storm-for-some-sunday-evening-late-night-thoughts/

Jan 10

Next Winter Storm Moves In Sunday Afternoon…

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Highlights:

  • Dangerous Cold Continues This Morning
  • Winter Storm Arrives Sunday Afternoon
  • Another Push Of Below Zero Air Mid Week
  • Watching Thursday

Sunny Today; Next Winter Storm Arrives Tomorrow…While it’s always nice to see the sun, it won’t do much to warm temperatures this afternoon.  Another frigid morning (all reporting sites across central Indiana went below zero again this morning) will only “warm” into the upper teens this afternoon.

The big focus of this forecast package has to do with what lies ahead Sunday afternoon through Monday morning.  Model data continues to suggest central Indiana deals with another winter storm.  A model average puts down between 0.30″ to 0.50″ (liquid equivalent).  On a standard 10:1 ratio, that would be between 3-5″ of snow, and if that 0.30″-0.50″ all fell in the form of freezing rain we would be looking at a damaging ice storm.  As of now it appears as if we deal with the entire wintry precipitation gamut.

Moisture will surge north Sunday afternoon and we bracket the hours between 3-5p for the onset of wintry precipitation.  Low pressure will organize along the Gulf Coast and move northeast into the Tennessee Valley Monday morning.  At the same time, another dome of arctic high pressure will begin to sink south.  The end result should be a wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain that eventually transitions to snow through the nighttime Sunday.  Obviously timing that transition will be crucial in determining just how much snow and ice accumulates.  As of now we’ll split the expected liquid equivalent down the middle and say 0.40″ falls across central Indiana.  Of that 0.40″, 0.20″ may fall as freezing rain (glaze) and 0.20″ may fall as snow (which would stack up to a couple inches on the standard 10:1 ratio).  Areas north of Indianapolis run a better chance of seeing the transition to snow faster while areas south of the city run a higher chance at accumulating more freezing rain.  Stay tuned.

We go back into the deep freeze Tuesday-Wednesday and eye Thursday for the possibility of another storm system.

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

  • 7-Day Snowfall Forecast: 1″ – 3″
  • 7-Day Freezing Rainfall Forecast: 0.20″ 

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2015/01/10/next-winter-storm-moves-in-sunday-afternoon/

Jan 09

Wintry Sandwich Sunday Evening-Monday; More Bitter Cold Follows.

Busy times continue in the good ole weather office as we get set to deal with yet another winter storm during the upcoming weekend.

First, we’ll deal with more below zero temperatures tonight and Saturday morning as overnight lows bottom out between 5 and 10 degrees below zero tonight area-wide.  Wind chill values, of course, will be even colder (-15 to -25).  Dangerous cold continues with considerable blowing and drifting in the open country.  Saturday will be the “calm before the storm” with unseasonably cold conditions continuing, but with lighter winds and sunshine.

Clouds will increase Saturday night into Sunday and we’ll begin to introduce precipitation into your forecast as early as Sunday afternoon (not a bad day for two classic back-to-back playoff games if you ask me).  Here’s our best idea of what you can expect statewide after reviewing all guidance today:

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Some initial thinking would place the following numbers (a bit early to be too specific), and we caution this will have to be fine tuned as we move forward.

Snow accumulation of 2″-4″ across north-central Indiana, particularly just north of Indianapolis.  In the “mainly snow” zone, expect amounts of 3″-6″.  Ice storm criteria accumulation of freezing rain is possible (0.25″, or greater) across central Indiana, as well.  South of the city, early ideas suggest roughly 1″-2″ of snow and glaze potential closer to that potentially damaging 0.25″ amount.  Again, we state that these numbers are very early ideas and will have to be fine tuned.

Precipitation should initially overspread central Indiana Sunday afternoon in the form of sleet and snow (more sleet south-central, more snow north-central) before transitioning to more of a sleet and freezing rain event.  Finally, we anticipate the wintry mixture of precipitation to end as snow before moving out Monday morning.  Timing and duration of precipitation types will obviously determine how much ice and snow a given location sees.

Another big item we want to be sure to mention is that yet ANOTHER push of bitter arctic air will invade behind this storm and set the stage for another dangerously cold period Tuesday into Wednesday (back below zero we go)!

Stay tuned as we continue to fine tune the forecast over the weekend!

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2015/01/09/wintry-sandwich-sunday-evening-monday/

Jan 09

Catching Up On Where We’ve Been And What Lies Ahead…

January is off to a frigid start. After a mild December, January is certainly reminding folks that there’s a lot of winter in this pattern. Precipitation is running above normal…

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Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2015/01/09/catching-up-on-where-weve-been-and-what-lies-ahead/

Dec 30

Arctic Air On The Move…

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Fresh Arctic Air…Arctic air is on the move this morning and will result in a bitterly cold close to 2014.  This arctic air may be accompanied by a snow flurry or scattered snow shower later this afternoon (especially across northeast and east-central Indiana).  The bigger story will be the bitter feel to the air as wind chills fall to around zero tonight and Wednesday morning.

Dry, but frigid conditions remain New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.  If you plan on ringing 2015 in downtown Wednesday night, be sure to be prepared for the cold and dress warmly!

Weekend Storm System…We continue to track a storm system for the weekend, but more questions than answers remain on precise track and timing and will have a huge impact on precipitation types and amounts.  For now we forecast a wintry “potpourri” of rain, sleet, and snow Friday night into Saturday, tapering to backlash flurries Sunday.  Stay tuned.

Eyes On Clippers…Indications are that we may get into a rather busy clipper pattern next week.  The first of possibly two clippers may deliver snow Monday night into Tuesday.  Cold weather continues.

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

  • 7-Day Rainfall Forecast: 0.50″ – 0.75″
  • 7-Day Snowfall Forecast: 1″ – 2″ 

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2014/12/30/arctic-air-on-the-move/

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