Winter Storm Warning, Cold Weather Advisory begin Saturday afternoon

SOUTH-CENTRAL, Ind. - The National Weather Service (NWS) on Friday issued a Winter Storm Warning and a Cold Weather Advisory for south-central Indiana beginning at noon on Saturday.

The Winter Storm Warning will be in effect until Monday at 7 a.m., and the Cold Weather Advisory continues into next week. The weather alerts are for Bartholomew, Johnson, Jackson, Jennings, Decatur, Brown, and Shelby Counties.

Snowfall will begin in the early afternoon hours on Saturday, and by nightfall on Sunday, the area could have 9 to 13 inches of snow blanketing the ground.

Snow will fall at a moderate rate (0.5 to 1 inch per hour) from 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturday. The heaviest snow will come from about 4 to 9 a.m. on Sunday, falling at an approximate rate of 1 to 1.5 inches per hour.

Blowing and drifting snow is expected Sunday night into Monday morning with 20+ mph winds.

Hazardous travel conditions are likely, including reduced visibility and snow-covered roads.

High temperatures through next week will be in the teens with lows in the single digits and sub-zero some nights. At times, the NWS says wild-chill values could plummet to -15 to -20. In these conditions, frostbite can occur in as little as 30 minutes.

Local county emergency management departments advise you to

• Avoid unnecessary travel during the heavy snow
• Dress in layers and limit time outdoors during the dangerous cold
• Prepare your vehicle with winter safety supplies
• Check emergency kits and have extra food, water, and medications
• Make sure pets have adequate shelter, food, and water, and bring them indoors
• Protect pipes from freezing by opening cabinet doors and letting cold water drip from faucets     

Residents can check road conditions with the INDOT Trafficwise Map at https://511in.org, and find statewide travel advisories at https://www.in.gov/dhs/travel-advisory-map/.

Local and state officials encourage you to monitor forecast updates and plan accordingly for prolonged cold and potential winter weather impacts.