Updated 02.12.25 @ 7:34a
Type: Impactful wintry weather
What: Wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain
When: Wednesday afternoon and Wednesday night
Temperatures: Lower 30s, falling into the 20s Thursday morning
Wind: Northeast 5 – 15 MPH, shifting to the northwest Thursday morning and increasing to 15 – 20 MPH and gusty.
Blowing/ drifting: No concerns
Pavement impacts: Salting will be required
Summary: A dynamic and fast moving storm system will result in a messy period of weather across central Indiana later this afternoon through tonight. A surface low will race from northeastern LA this afternoon into northeastern Ohio Thursday morning. This will allow precipitation to overspread central Indiana throughout the afternoon with a couple periods of steadier and more widespread precipitation anticipated mid-to-late afternoon and again late evening and into the early overnight period (say between 9p and 2a). The predominant precipitation type for the northern portion of Indianapolis and surrounding northern ‘burbs, extending north to include areas like Frankfort, Elwood, Muncie and surrounding areas is likely to be in the form of freezing rain.
To further complicate matters, the freezing line is expected to fluctuate across central Indiana (shown below), bobbing just north and south of the I-70 corridor throughout the majority of the event. This means southern Indianapolis ‘burbs and and into the southern portion of the city are likely to remain with just a plain ole cold rain throughout the majority of the event, while areas just north deal with a glaze of ice, to as much as .10″ to .20″ before all is said and done.
Precipitation will come to an end prior to sunrise Thursday (just a few lingering light snow showers by that point).
Confidence: High
Next Update: This evening (video discussion)