Consider this morning a practice run for next week. The temperature was as cold as it’s been in almost three years. Indy dropped below zero for the first time since February of 2011. By Tuesday morning it will be as cold as it’s been in 20 years, hitting a low point of about twenty degrees below zero. The dangerously cold air Monday will follow a foot of potential snow Sunday.
That January 20 years ago was pretty brutal. Indy’s lowest Temperature ever recorded came on January 19 1994: -27 degrees. The all time lowest recorded temp in the state also came that day… -36 in New Whiteland.
Friday morning brings chills a little below zero. Those numbers are unlikely to get out of single digits today. Enjoy the one day bounce tomorrow if you’re heading Downtown for the Pacers or Colts. Highs should be just above freezing.
Snow will start after midnight Saturday night. It will be heavy at times in the midday and afternoon hours. Winds will increase in the late afternoon and evening, gusting to 30 mph. The snow will end mid to late evening Sunday, leaving behind 6-12 inches over most of the state.
Cold air will follow rapidly, and it will be around zero as Monday morning rush hour begins. (Though I doubt there will be much rushing.) Temps will then CONTINUE to drop during the day, to about 15 below. Chills ALL DAY will be running from 25 to 35 below zero. A few flurries or snow showers are possible, but the focus will remain on the temperatures through Monday night. Tuesday morning readings should be right around 20 below. Tuesday afternoon highs *might* get to zero. It will go below zero one more time Tuesday night, and then stay above zero most of the day Wednesday.
Snow is a possibility Wednesday night into Thursday, although it wouldn’t be heavy. Yesterday’s totals averaged around 5 inches for much of Indiana. Indianapolis actually made it to 6.1 inches. That makes the Indy seasonal snow fall total exactly 15 inches. The average to this point is 8.5 inches. The total is almost identical to where we were at this point last year. The difference: most of January 2013 was quiet with respect to snow. That is clearly NOT going to be the case this year.
INDY ALMANAC:
The average high today is 36 and the average low is 21. Records are 65 and -22. The sun rises again today at 8:06 and sets at 5:33.
PAUL’S PREVIOUS PREDICTION:
Yesterday afternoon’s high was 17. My forecast was 18.
INDY FORECAST:
Today: Partly to mostly sunny. Chills below zero in the morning and in single digits all day. High 20.
Tonight: Mostly clear. Low 12.
Saturday: Partly sunny. High 35.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy. Snow after midnight. Low 27.
Sunday: Snow likely all day. Heaviest in midday and afternoon. High 32.
Sunday Night: Snow ends by late evening. Final totals of 6-12 inches. Low 0.
Monday: VERY COLD! Temps fall from around zero in the morning. Partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of flurries or snow showers. High -13.
Monday Night: VERY COLD! Partly cloudy. Low -19.
Tuesday: VERY COLD! Mostly sunny. High -1.
Tuesday Night: VERY COLD! Partly cloudy. Low -4.
Wednesday: Partly to mostly cloudy. Flurries possible. High 24.
Wednesday Night: Chance of snow late. Low 22.
Thursday: Chance of snow. High 32.
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