Just before 2 p.m. Wednesday’s forecast was partly cloudy and you might have noticed the sun peaking through, but that’s not what it’ll be like going into the rest of the evening and night.
Snow squalls are expected throughout Central Indiana with Indianapolis being heavily impacted.
“Squalls are small and scattered in nature, but they are intense when they occur,” NWS meteorologist Matthew Eckhoff told IndyStar. “You can driving and it’s fine until it’s not and then all of sudden there’s very heavy snow and hazardous driving conditions on the roads.”
Eckhoff said around 4 p.m. is when the squalls will be the most intense, but should die down between 8 and 9 p.m. Some locations throughout Central Indiana may not get any squalls at all, and others might get more than one.
What is a snow squall?
A snow squall is an intense burst of snow and winds that usually last one to three hours. They create whiteout visibility and rapidly deteriorate road conditions. That could drastically reduce visibility within heavier snow showers and squalls, the National Weather Services noted in its hazardous weather outlook advisory.
Indianapolis weather: Potential snow squalls have Indianapolis meteorologists on alert
Flash freezing for this evening
As temperatures fall later on today into the evening flash freezing on the surfaces of roads will also be possible. Conditions can deteriorate rapidly within heavy snow showers with little warning. Traveling will likely be hazardous at times, especially during the evening commute according to NSW Indianapolis.
Wind chill will plummet from 0 to minus-10 degrees Wednesday night.
Expect power outages around Indiana
AES Indiana said with the potential for 40 mph wind gusts happening during the squalls, some customers may experience power outages.
Indianapolis weather radar
The city is treating the roads now
The Indianapolis Department of Public Works said they are deploying over 80 crews for tonight and are pretreating the roads ahead of the expected snowfall when most are set to commute home during rush hour traffic.
Keep in mind up-to-date information on local road conditions can be found online at 511in.org, which features real time traffic conditions, alerts and hazards.
Indianapolis weather forecast
Here’s the latest forecast from the National Weather Service Indianapolis:
❄️ Wednesday: Snow showers likely, mainly after 4 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 35. West wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
❄️ Wednesday night: Snow showers likely, mainly before 9 p.m. Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 14. West wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Indiana weather alerts
The National Weather Service has published a special weather statement and hazardous outlook forecast for Indianapolis tied to the coming winter weather.
Keep tabs on weather alerts in Indiana and across the country at this live tracker.
Where to report power outages and downed lines
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AES Indiana customers: 317-261-8111
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Duke Energy customers: 1-800-343-3525
How to report downed traffic signals or tree limbs blocking a road
If you encounter a downed traffic signal or a limb blocking a roadway, contact the Mayor’s Action Center at 317-327-4622 or online at RequestIndy.gov. When calling after hours, press “2” to be connected.
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.
🏠 It’s cold outside! Where to find shelter.
Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X, formally Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis winter storm will bring snow squalls to afternoon commute