2 weeks Ago
INDIANAPOLIS — Sunshine is giving way to the latest quick-moving snow system that's moving across central and especially southern Indiana, courtesy of the continued upper-level northwesterly flow. That flow air is also keeping temperatures unseasonably cold to open the month of December. At this hour, radar looks much worse than what's actually happening at the surface due to relatively drier air in the boundary layer, indicative by dewpoints in the lower teens.
That drier air eats away at a lot of the initial snowfall potential, but not all of it. Eventually, the atmosphere saturates enough with better lifting arriving this afternoon from an approaching upper level system in Illinois. This makes the air more suitable for flurries and/or areas of steadier, lighter snow.
The latter appears to be more likely south-southwest of Interstate 74 and Indianapolis. We'll need to monitor radar and surface conditions closely between now and 8 p.m.
for possible impacts to the evening commute in the Metro area. South-southwest of I-74 is in a position for lighter, but impactful, snowfall over the next 8-9 hours. Remember that even "light" snow can makes for slow, slick travel due to the coldness of late and this will be true of bridges/overpasses/untreated surfaces that become slick quicker, as we've seen over the past two events to move through central Indiana.
We're advising you to check on road conditions and radar before leaving today and tonight for potential travel impacts. There will be exponentially heavier snow from an expected lake effect snow band in parts of Michiana, including South Bend. Locally 7"+ snowfall coming from 1"-2"+ per hour snow rates within the intense lake effect band will make parts of I-94 & I-90 highly dangerous to travel on.
Outside of the band the impacts drop-off quickly..
