If you’re getting tired of the rash of severe winter weather hitting northern Indiana, brace yourself — it’s going to get worse before it gets better.
That’s according to Sara Weisser of the North Webster branch of the National Weather Service.
“Winter’s definitely not over yet,” she said.
A recent Arctic front brought the harsh conditions the area has seen over the past days, dropping between 6 and 9 inches of snow since the beginning of the weekend. Some areas along Indiana’s border with Michigan saw as much as 10 or more inches of snow before the overnight dusting.
Today’s forecast calls for heavy snow showers beginning late this morning, with temperatures continuing to drop throughout the afternoon, hitting single digits by this evening. The wind chill, however, will drop well below zero. An additional 1 to 3 inches of snow accumulation is expected. There is also the possibility of some sporadic lake effect snow.
A break in the weather may greet the area for a very brief period, but another system is expected to move in on Wednesday, bringing with it more snow, wind and even lower temperatures.
“We’re really going to have to keep our eyes on the storm coming through Wednesday afternoon,” Weisser said.
Temperatures in the high teens are forecast, but the wind chill during the day may drop to 16 degrees below zero. That night, conditions are expected to deteriorate further, with winds at 15 to 25 miles per hour gusting up to 35 miles per hour and a wind chill as low as 20 below.
“There’s definitely going to be a cold spell here at the end of the week,” Weisser said.
Conditions are serious enough that the National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch lasting until 7 p.m. this evening, a blizzard watch from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday afternoon and a hazardous weather outlook describing conditions lasting from Wednesday to Monday.
According to the NWS, a winter storm warning means significant amounts of snow. Strong winds are also likely. This will make travel very hazardous or impossible. A blizzard watch means there is potential for falling and/or blowing snow with strong winds and extremely poor visibility. This can lead to whiteout conditions and make travel very dangerous.
Weisser said the winter storm system could reduce visibility in the area to a quarter of a mile or less. Snow from the system could continue all the way through Saturday.
Temperatures should begin to rise by the weekend, reaching 15 to 20 degrees.
“On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, there may be some sun and highs in the lower 30s,” Weisser said, “if we can get through this weekend and start to warm up a bit.”
On the bright side, the area should avoid the flooding often seen after large snows in the past ... at least for now. Low temperatures are expected to keep the snow from melting, or keep it melting slowly.
“That will be something to watch come next week,” Weisser said. “For the near future it doesn’t look too bad.”
In the rush for residents to be prepared for the weather, the Humane Society of Elkhart County is reminding them to keep their pets in mind.
“With anything below zero degrees, you should bring your animal inside,” Assistant Director Rachel Dennis said.
The low temperatures affect pets the same way they affect humans, she said, urging owners of pets who can’t come inside to at least prepare appropriate shelter for them outside. This includes putting a roof over their head and giving them something other than snow to lay on. Straw is a common bedding, and provides some insulation.
“In the wintertime, most of our calls are about people driving by and noticing animals left outside,” Dennis said.
Ensuring pets have fresh food and fresh water that won’t freeze is also important. Dennis suggests purchasing water bowls that warm automatically.
In the end, it comes down to one thing.
“If you don’t want to stand out there,” Dennis said, “your animal doesn’t want to stand out there.”
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