Indianapolis - The snow arrived Saturday morning, and it was only the beginning of a pre-Christmas winter blast.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for much of Central Indiana through Sunday afternoon. Several inches are expected in the metro area by Saturday afternoon, with a sleet/snow mix expected later. Heavy snow is expected overnight with totals as high as 17 inches in areas to the north of Marion County.
We'll see the first band of snow pass through Central Indiana Saturday morning, with about one to three inches falling, some areas picking up four. SkyTrak Weather says we should see a break this afternoon before freezing rain, sleet and snow develop for tonight and early Sunday morning.Wind gusts to 35 and 45 mph on Sunday morning could make for blizzard like conditions. Areas that see all snow and no ice could pick up 10-17 inches. This area includes just to the north of I-70. Along and south of I-70 6-12 inches is possible along with significant freezing rain and sleet. Our far southern counties will see about 4-8 inches due to a lot of ice and rain. Some areas in Hamilton County could see the greater snow amounts.
Stay tuned to Eyewitness News and WTHR.com for the latest updates on the storm, as well as closings and delays. Sign up for your Personal Forecast from WTHR.com to stay on top of the weather. And when it's all over, head outside and snap a few pictures for our photo gallery.
Ice wreaks havoc on roadways
Around 3:00 pm, the snowfall that blanketed the area turned to a light rain. By the late evening hours, the rain had begun to freeze on windshields in the downtown area, and some roads on the north side had become icy. The far northwest corner of Interstate 465 was closed around 9:45 Saturday night, and two southbound lanes of the outerbelt near I-70 on the east side closed due to a crash shortly before 11 pm.
In Carmel, a van crashed into a pond at 141st Street and Towne Road, apparently trapping four people inside. Crews transported the victims to the hospital and remain on the scene. There is no report on the condition of the passengers, which witnesses say included an adult and three children.
Further north, there were reports of ice on I-65 toward Lebanon causing at least one accident. At 11 pm, the freezing rain and ice extended north from south of Indianapolis to Frankfort. North of the rain was heavy snow. Meteorologist Jude Redfield says the freezing rain will continue until 2 am before temperatures get cold enough for the precipitation to turn to snow. The storm is now forecast to leave 5 to 9 inches of snow on the ground around central Indiana, including what fell Saturday morning.
In addition to the precipitation, winds picking up to between 25 and 40 miles an hour could create blizzard-like conditions in the morning into the early afternoon.
Snow gives way to ice in the afternoon
At around 9:30 am, traffic on I-65 was smooth, although the snowfall was picking up and the wind got stronger. State police reported several slide-offs on different parts of the interstates and in the metro area.
State and county road crews started working Friday to prepare the roads. In Indianapolis, some 75 Department of Public Works drivers are planning for 12-hour shifts and began dropping salt on roads before the snow started falling. The state used liquid salt brine to get ahead of predictions for impending ice. Around 60 INDOT trucks will be out, as well as 300 in the central Indiana area.
"Typically the worst is when the snow is falling heavily. So take a look outside the window and if possible try to squeeze your Christmas shopping in when it's not falling from the sky," said Paul Whitmore, Department of Public Works.
Many drivers were heeding that advice as they headed to the mall or grocery store early Saturday morning. Some hardware stores reported that they had already sold out of snowblowers.
INDOT plans to have Hoosier Helpers on patrol on the Interstate system within Marion County to assist motorists that get stranded in the storm.
Anderson vehicle order
Anderson Mayor Kevin S. Smith has asked all city residents to remove their vehicles from city streets, if possible, in anticipation of a major snowstorm that is expected to develop Saturday. If all vehicles can be moved to driveways or other private property, the city's snow emergency task force will be better able to clear streets and roadways. See the city website for updates.
Emergency declarations
Indiana has a new standardized system to report across the state during severe weather and other hazardous situations if it includes snowstorms and tornadoes, floods, fires, utility failures, major accidents, public health energies and even acts of terrorism.
Before this year, each of Indiana's 92 counties reported conditions differently making it difficult to give an appropriate response in a timely manner. Now the system includes one easy to read statewide map that can be posted here and allows for quick emergency declarations meaning a quicker response for those who need help.
ISP offers winter driving tips
The combination of snow, freezing rain, ice and wind can cause driving conditions to change quickly. To help Hoosiers prepare for this winter storm, the Indiana State Police offers the following safety tips.
Be prepared:
- Before traveling, check the forecast and let someone know your travel route.
- Keep your gas tank at least half-full.
- Carry a winter driving kit that should include blankets, flashlight, extra batteries, a brightly colored cloth, sand (or cat litter), shovel, candle, matches, non-perishable high calorie food, first aid kit, and jumper cables.
- Slow down on snow/ice covered roads.
- Allow extra time to arrive at your destination.
- Clear all windows of ice and snow and remove snow from hood, roof, and lights.
- Use extra caution when driving across bridges, underpasses, shaded areas and intersections where ice is slow to melt.
- Avoid abrupt stops and starts. Slow down gradually and keep wheels turning to avoid loosing traction.
- Use low beam headlights to decrease glare from ice.
Should you become stranded:
- Don't leave your car. It's the best protection you have.
- Tie a brightly colored cloth to your antenna.
- Roll down your window a small amount.
- Keep the exhaust pipe free of blockage to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Don't panic. An idling car uses only one gallon of gas per hour.
A four-wheel drive vehicle may keep you from being stuck in deep snow or aid in acceleration during slippery road conditions, but it will not allow you to stop any quicker. Slow down and allow yourself plenty of stopping distance.
For Indiana road conditions between December 1 and April 1, call 317-232-8298 or 800-261-7623 or visit the state police web site.
