Wind chill low as -25 possible in parts of Central Indiana Sunday, NWS says
Katie WisemanStrong wind gusts will continue Sunday evening with gusts up to 25 mph over northern Central Indiana, with many areas seeing wind chill advisories until Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
The wind and snow flurries could produce brief periods of low visibility along with isolated slick spots to be mindful of if you have to leave your home this weekend.
While light snow is expected, the high winds and plummeting temperatures that started Friday are what meteorologists say to watch out for the most.
Wind chill values were predicted to reach as low as -25 on Sunday in parts of Central Indiana.
There is a chance of flurries before 8 p.m. on Sunday and again on Monday night, the NWS Indianapolis office said. On Saturday, the NWS said they expected less than 1 inch this weekend for most areas north and west of the I-70 corridor.
NWS has been monitoring this system since late last week and will continue to update forecasts throughout the weekend, so be sure to check back here for updates to be best prepared for winter weather.
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Current forecast for Sunday
Indianapolis weather radar
Sunday: There is a wind chill advisory until 7 a.m. on Monday.
Partly sunny with a temperature high near 7 degrees. Wind chill values as low as -20, with a west wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Sunday night forecasts as mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 4 degrees. Wind chill values as low as -11. West wind 8 to 10 mph.
Monday: Chance of flurries after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 12 degrees. Wind chill values as low as -13 degrees, with a west wind around 7 mph.
Chance of flurries before 8 p.m., then chance of snow showers until 2 a.m. Cloudy, with a low temperature around 4 degrees. Wind chill values as low as -5 degrees, with a west wind of 6-10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
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Evansville weather radar
Sunday: Wind chill advisory in effect until noon Monday. Increasing clouds with a high near 11 degrees. Wind chill values as low as -6 degrees with a west northwest wind of 7-10 mph.
There is a 30% chance of snow before midnight and it'll be mostly cloudy with a temperature low around 6 degrees and wind chill as low as -3. Northwest wind around 6 mph.
Monday: A 30% chance of snow, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy with a high near 16 degrees. Wind chill values projected as low as -4 degrees with a north northwest wind around 7 mph.
Monday night forecasts a 20% chance of snow before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 7 degrees. Wind chill values are as low as -7 degrees with a northwest wind of 7-10 mph.
Fort Wayne weather radar
Sunday: Wind chill advisory in effect until noon Monday. Mostly sunny with a high near 4 degrees. Wind chill values as low as -25 degrees. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Sunday night it'll be partly cloudy, with a temperature low around -5 degrees. Wind chill values as low as -20. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday: Partly sunny with a high temperature near 7 degrees. Wind chill values as low as -20 degrees with a west wind around 10 mph.
A 20% chance of snow showers Monday night. Cloudy, with a temperature low around 1 degree. Wind chill values as low as -10 degrees with a west wind around 10 mph.
South Bend weather radar
Sunday: Wind chill advisory in effect until noon Monday. Partly sunny with a high temperature near 2 degrees. Wind chill values as low as -25 degrees, southwest wind around 15 mph with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Sunday night will be mostly cloudy with a low around -8 degrees. Wind chill values as low as -25 degrees. Southwest wind 10-15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Monday: Partly sunny with a high temperature near 4 degrees. Wind chill values as low as -25 degrees. Southwest wind 10-15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
There is a 30% chance of snow showers Monday night. Cloudy, with a low temperature around -2 degrees. Wind chill values as low as -15 degrees with a southwest wind of 10-15 mph.
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Bundle up if you have to go out. Frostbite and hypothermia possible.
In a Tweet shared Saturday afternoon, NWS warns about the risks of frostbite and hypothermia and reminds residents to make sure all skin is covered when heading outside this weekend, with as many layers as possible.
What to know about frostbite
"Frostbite can happen in minutes, especially on the extremities such as fingers, toes, nose and ears, but can affect any area of exposed skin," the NWS website said.
Redness or pain in any skin area may be the first sign of frostbite, according to the CDC.
Other signs include:
- a white or grayish-yellow skin area
- skin that feels unusually firm or waxy
- numbness
If you suspect frostbite, immediately move inside to a heated location and begin warming the affected areas using warm water or body heat, but do not use hot water or radiant heat like a fireplace. The affected areas can be easily burned.
Seek medical attention for severe frostbite.
What to know about hypothermia
"When your body temperature sinks below 95°F, you have hypothermia, a serious health hazard that occurs when body temperature is lowered too much," NWS said.
If you are trying to help someone who may have hypothermia, first call an ambulance as they need immediate medical attention.
If you can move them to a warmer location, do so. Then lie close to the person and cover both of you with thick blankets. The hotter you get, the more warmth you can give the other person.
It is important to begin warming the center of the body first. Don't rub the person or handle them roughly. If the person is unconscious, administer CPR.
Tips to preventing hypothermia:
- Dress in layers.
- Wrap up well when going outside in the cold.
- Avoid breezes and drafts indoors.
- Eat nutritious food and wear warm clothes to ward off winter chill.
- Wear a warm hat in the winter.
- Eat hot foods and drink warm drinks several times during the day.
- If you live alone, ask a family member or neighbor to check on you daily or have a camera installed that a family member can view on their computer.
- Ask your doctor if any medicine you're taking increases your risk of hypothermia. Drugs that may cause a problem include barbiturates, benzodiazepines, chlorpromazine, reserpine, and tricyclic antidepressants.
"If your temperature is 95°F or less, you feel cold and sluggish, or you are having trouble thinking clearly, see a doctor immediately or go to the nearest emergency room," NWS said. "It's better to be overly cautious than to die of a disorder that doesn't have to be deadly."
You can check their "During Extremely Cold Weather" page for more information.
If you need someplace to go to escape the cold, there are warming centers around Indy and you can find more information about them here.
Get your winter preparedness kits ready
While the severity of the storm is unknown, it is important to make sure you are prepared. Meteorologist Greg Melo recommends having a preparedness kit in your car and home and layer up if you need to go outside.
"Make sure you have any kind of preparedness kits that you need in your house to stay warm and if you have to go outside to make sure you're bundled up," Melo said.
NWS has a Winter Preparedness Checklist on its website with recommendations for what to include in your kits should you need them.
How to stay warm when the power is out
If you happen to lose power during the cold weather, NWS shared some tips on how to stay warm without electricity.
- Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing as well as hats, mittens, and blankets.
- Close blinds or curtains to keep in some heat.
- Close off rooms to avoid wasting heat.
- Place towels or rags in cracks under doors.
- Practice portable generator safety: use outdoors, at least 20 feet away from doors/windows/garages to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Follow instructions on proper use.
- Once your family is safe, check on your neighbors and the vulnerable to make sure they are okay.
Be mindful that black ice is possible in these conditions
In their winter storm brief released on Friday, NWS reminds the public to be mindful of black ice.
"Any lingering moisture on roads could freeze tonight into Saturday morning resulting in black ice," the brief read.
- Black ice can form on any road, but also along curbs and drainage areas due to melting snow.
- More prevalent at night, but can still be around in the morning.
- Use caution driving during freezing temperatures after rain or snowmelt.
Indianapolis residents can follow the Indy Department of Public Works on X, formerly known as Twitter, for updates about snow removal.
Indy Department of Public Works also manages Indy Snow Force, their winter weather operations team, with an online map showing what roads have been plowed already in the city.
The Indy Snow Force road map can be found online at maps.indy.gov/IndySnowForceViewer. You can also follow them on X, @IndySnowForce.
John Tufts and Sarah Neslon contributed to this report.
Katie Wiseman is a trending and breaking news intern at IndyStar. Contact her at klwiseman@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @itskatiewiseman.