Category: Winter Storm

Jan 11

Growing Concern For Significant Ice Event…

Just wanted to touch base on some of the latest data this evening and concern is growing around an extended period of freezing rain and sleet that will develop within a few hours, continuing through the morning rush for the majority of central Indiana.  Some of our high resolution data is suggesting significant amounts of freezing rain overnight- in some cases more than one quarter inch across southwestern and central portions of the state.  This is enough to create concern for the potential of downed tree limbs and power lines in spots.

Forecast radar (time stamp at 4a below) shows widespread freezing rain developing during the overnight, including the greater Indianapolis area.

The model finally suggests that freezing rain will begin to transition to sleet around the morning rush hour.

An icy mixture of sleet and freezing rain is expected to transition to snow late morning into the early afternoon hours across the region.

We suggest ensuring you charge your electronic devices and cell phones tonight in the event you lose power overnight or Friday morning.  We’ll hope for a faster transition to sleet and snow than data currently suggests, but the concern is certainly present this evening for an impactful ice storm for portions of southwestern and central Indiana.

The morning commute Friday will be heavily impacted and if you don’t have to travel we recommend remaining indoors.

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/growing-concern-for-significant-ice-event/

Jan 11

VIDEO: Two Winter Events Impact Central Indiana Between Friday And Monday…

You must be logged in to view this content. Click Here to become a member of IndyWX.com for full access.  Already a member of IndyWx.com All-Access?  Log-in here.

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/video-two-winter-events-impact-central-indiana-between-friday-and-monday/

Jan 11

Ice Transitions To A Double Shot Of Snow; Frigid Times Return…

Highlights:

  • Bye-bye thaw
  • Ice to snow Friday
  • Second snow maker Sunday night

Active Forecast Period…A breezy southerly flow will dominate our weather today ahead of an approaching cold front.  Showers and unseasonably mild conditions can be expected today.  (Despite the snow lover in me, I will admit that it’s been mighty nice being able to jog outside without worrying about slipping on ice or snow the past couple days).

Things begin to change in rather dramatic fashion tonight as the cold front presses through the state and allows much colder air to “ooze” back into central Indiana.  At the same time, a wave of energy will track northeast along the cold front and help spread more widespread moisture into the colder air at the surface.  We expect rain to begin mixing with and changing to an icy mixture of sleet and freezing rain after midnight across western and central portions of the state, and closer to 5a-6a across eastern Indiana.  Eventually, as the entire column of air cools, icy precipitation will transition to snow.  If the sleet to snow transition occurs faster, snowfall totals will be at the higher end of the first call numbers outlined below.  Should sleet hold on for a longer period of time, snowfall amounts will be on the lower end of forecast totals.  We think snow will end around noon west of the city, but steady snow will hang on much longer across eastern sections of the viewing area- well into the evening hours.

Here’s our first call snowfall forecast for Friday.  While this doesn’t include freezing rain amounts, we think a glaze up to 0.10″ is a good bet – especially on elevated and exposed surfaces.

Dry conditions will return Saturday along with a much colder feel.  Quiet times won’t last long as another snow system will quickly begin to impact the state Sunday evening into Monday.  Widespread steady snow is expected to develop and will actually be a more uniform, bigger, event for most of the viewing area.  We’ll add in wind and arctic air which will lead to blowing and drifting issues as the day progresses Monday into Tuesday.  Here’s our first call for additional snow amounts Sunday evening-Monday.

The forecast period will wrap up dry and bitterly cold.  With a fresh snowpack down, it’s safe to say we’ll add at least another night to the sub-zero “club!”

Stay tuned, friends!

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

  • Snowfall: 3″ to 6″
  • Rainfall: 0.25″ to 0.75″

*Please note the 7-day precipitation forecast outlined above is for Indianapolis proper.  

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/ice-transitions-to-a-double-shot-of-snow-frigid-times-return/

Jan 10

VIDEO: Brief Thaw Gives Way To A Wintry Close To The Week…

You must be logged in to view this content. Click Here to become a member of IndyWX.com for full access.  Already a member of IndyWx.com All-Access?  Log-in here.

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/video-brief-thaw-gives-way-to-a-wintry-close-to-the-week/

Jan 09

Brief Thaw; Severe Winter Event Looms For A Portion Of The Region…

Highlights:

  • Fog and drizzle
  • Major winter storm looms
  • Frigid air returns

Brief Thaw; Major Winter Storm On Deck…The short-term will be dominated by low clouds and areas of fog, along with patchy drizzle.  Areas of freezing fog and drizzle are possible early Wednesday morning before conditions “warm” in earnest through the afternoon and evening.

A cold front will approach from the northwest Thursday with showers and gusty southerly winds.  This southerly air flow will deliver a briefly milder time of things during the day Thursday before the cold front settles south Thursday night.  As this transpires, surface low pressure will organize along the southern end of the boundary before tracking northeast into the Tennessee and Ohio Valley Friday into Saturday.

We continue to favor a track up west of the spine of the Appalachians and note some of the more progressive data is beginning to correct west to align closer with the other guidance that’s been spitting out big snow numbers over the past few days.  Before we discuss snow, an icy mixture of sleet and freezing rain will fall across the region late Thursday night into early Friday.  We expect precipitation to transition to all snow Friday afternoon, continuing into Saturday.  At times, heavy snow is likely.

While we aren’t ready to lay out an accumulation map just yet, the heaviest snow axis will likely include 8″ to 12″+ amounts somewhere through central portions of the state.  We’ll aim to provide a first call snowfall map this time tomorrow.  Furthermore, there will also be a wind component to this storm.  What’ll initially be a wet, heavy snow will turn more “powdery” in nature as arctic air gets pulled into the storm.  That powder will get blown and drifted about Friday night and Saturday and travel will be significantly impacted.

Frigid conditions will return over the weekend before another accumulating snow pushes into town Monday.  Behind this snow maker, a brutal push of sub-zero air is likely next week.

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

  • Snowfall: 6″+
  • Rainfall: 0.50″ to 0.75″

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/brief-thaw-severe-winter-event-looms-for-a-portion-of-the-region/