Light snow flurries in Indianapolis early Sunday signaled an approaching arctic air mass that could bring dangerous wind chills as low as -20 degrees across Indiana in the coming days.
Bitterly cold temperatures are forecast across Indiana from 7 p.m. Sunday to 10 a.m. Wednesday, according to a cold weather advisory issued by the National Weather Service.
By Monday, the daily high is expected to drop near 10 degrees, with wind chill indexes cold enough to cause frostbite on exposed skin within just 30 minutes.
The NWS urges Hoosiers to cover all skin when going outdoors and to bring pets inside. When traveling, wear several layers and bring extra blankets in case of an emergency.
“That cold air will continue to filter in and we’re going to be below zero for overnight lows tonight,” NWS Indianapolis meteorologist Randy Bowers told IndyStar. “For the next few days, we’re going to be quite a bit colder than normal.”
Indiana’s weather colder than normal
At the peak of the cold blast, Central Indiana temperatures will be 25 to 30 degrees below typical levels, Bowers said. The average high this time in January is 36 degrees, while the overnight low is around 20 degrees.
Here’s the latest NWS forecast through Wednesday:
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Sunday, Jan. 19: Scattered snow showers before 1 p.m., then scattered flurries. Mostly cloudy, with temperature falling to around 14 by 5 p.m. By tonight, ambient air temperatures will be as low as -1 and wind chill values as low as -14.
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Monday, Jan. 20: Sunny and cold, with a high near 12. Wind chill values as low as -14. Monday night’s low is around 3.
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Tuesday, Jan. 21: Mostly sunny but even colder than Monday, with a high of 8 degrees. Tuesday night’s low is -3.
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Wednesday, Jan. 22: Mostly sunny with a high near 22. Wednesday night’s low is 17.
Will it snow in Indiana this week?
Little to no snowfall is forecast over the next week. On Sunday, a band of snow swept across Central Indiana and counties east of Indianapolis. Visibility could be poor for drivers, with rapid snow accumulations of a few tenths of an inch.
“There really is not a good chance of precipitation for the next seven days,” Bowers said. “Kind of a dry pattern. It’s mainly just cold.”
Weather info you need
🚨 Indiana Weather Alerts: Warnings, Watches and Advisories.
⚡ Indiana power outage map: How to check your status.
💻 Internet outages: How to track them.
🚫 What you should and shouldn’t do when the power is out.
🐶 Your neighbor left their pet outside. Who you should call.
Warming shelters around Indianapolis
People can find information about warming shelters via the city’s winter contingency plan or by calling 211. Emergency warming shelters will be available during harsh weather conditions through March 31.
Indy Parks Family Shelters will be open to all during normal business hours, which can be found at this link.
More: Freezing cold is here. Where to stay warm and find overnight shelter in Indianapolis.
Email IndyStar Housing, Growth and Development Reporter Jordan Smith at JTsmith@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @jordantsmith09
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana’s dangerously low wind chills make state colder than normal
