People walk along the trail near Craig Park during a February snowstorm in Greenwood.
Daily Journal File Photo
Johnson County could have its first white Christmas in half a decade if winter storm forecasts hold for this weekend.
A “significant” storm system is expected in Central Indiana starting Thursday night and through Christmas Eve morning. Wind gusts of 55 mph, wind chills of minus 30 degrees, difficult travel conditions and accumulating and blowing snow are expected, according to a Winter Storm Watch issued by the National Weather Service Tuesday afternoon.
The Winter Storm Watch is for nearly all counties in Indiana, aside from counties from Wayne County southward along the Ohio border and all counties along the Ohio River.
Dangerous cold is expected to begin Thursday night and last through Monday. Snowfall is expected Thursday night through Friday evening, according to the NWS.
The forecast
Prior to the cold and snow arriving, there is a nearly 100% chance of rain throughout the day on Thursday. High temperatures are expected to be around 43 degrees, but are expected to quickly fall once the cold front arrives Thursday night, said Jason Puma, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
“We will see essentially all that rain changing over to snow, and we’re gonna see temperatures really falling,” Puma said.
As of Tuesday morning, forecasts show the temperature to be around 40 degrees at 6 p.m. Thursday. By 6 a.m. Friday — 12 hours later — temperatures are expected to be around zero, he said.
“We’re talking about losing about 40 degrees in 12 hours, so a pretty big change,” Puma said.
Gusty winds are accompanying the cold front, with winds expected to be around 20 to 30 miles per hour. Some gusts may even go up to 55 mph, Puma said.
The cold temperatures, combined with the gusty winds, mean wind chill values will likely range from minus 25 degrees to minus 30 starting on Friday and continuing into Saturday, he said.
Precipitation is expected to taper off on Friday. As of Tuesday afternoon, meteorologists were unsure about the exact snowfall amounts from the storm, though they are predicting 2 to 4 inches. This could change as the system gets closer, Puma said.
Even though snowfall amounts will likely change, Johnson County could have its first white Christmas in five years. The most recent white Christmas for the Indianapolis area was on Christmas in 2017, where 1 to 3 inches of snow depth was reported. The last time there was over three inches of snow depth was in 2010, according to the NWS.
Since 1952, there have only been 25 days where snow had fallen or was actively falling in Indianapolis on Christmas, according to the NWS. Of those 25 days, 10 days had 1 to 3 inches of snow depth, while only seven had over three inches of snow depth, data shows.
Travel impacts
The storm is coming right before one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. This weather could make travel hazardous, officials say.
“This could obviously make things challenging for families who are traveling,” said Mike Pruitt, Bargersville Fire deputy chief. Pruitt himself had to postpone his family’s planned Christmas in northern Indiana due to the storm.
Pruitt does not encourage people to travel at all during the storm. If someone were to get in an accident, or get stuck on a roadway, during the storm, it can create issues for first responders, tow truck drivers and highway/street departments, he said.
“It’s just not worth it to get out and travel,” he said.
But if people do have to travel, they should make sure to check their vehicle’s fluids, especially windshield wiper fluid. Keeping the windows clean is key to visibility, Pruitt said.
“Keeping those windshields clear, or side windows or rear window, all clear of snow, ice, all that is going to be very important,” he said.
People should make sure to have an emergency preparedness kit in their car, both Puma and Pruitt said. These kits should include blankets, snacks, water and cellphone chargers in case people get stuck while traveling or stranded. People should also keep ice melt or kitty litter to help with deicing, Pruitt said.
If someone does become stranded on a busy roadway, they should not leave their car. Pruitt has responded to accidents where people have gotten out of their vehicles and been fatally struck. It happens across the state every year, he said.
Other winter tips
There is also advice people can follow when they are at home during the storm.
Indiana American Water officials encourage people to leave cabinet doors open in their kitchens and bathrooms to allow warm air to circulate around water pipes. People should also consider letting a faucet drip to keep water moving through the pipes, officials said in a news release.
Thermostats should be set no lower than 55 degrees if going out of town. This is considered a safe setting for pipes, officials said.
CenterPoint Energy is encouraging customers to make sure their heating systems are working properly and to make sure vents aren’t blocked. Customers should also check their carbon monoxide and smoke alarms, officials said in a news release.
Customers should also use space heaters safely, and to use a space heater with an automatic shut-off feature. Additionally, sealing leaks around doors, windows and other openings, can help keep heat inside the home, officials said.
If people have to go outside, they should make sure to cover all exposed skin to avoid frostbite, Puma said. Wearing heavy coats, gloves and masks, along with wearing proper footwear is also recommended, Pruitt said.
Pruitt encourages people to pre-treat their driveways and sidewalks. People should still be careful though, the rain could wash it away on Thursday.
“We (have) got to time putting that product down so we eliminate that ice under any snow that might come down after that,” he said.
Pruitt said people should warm up their cars outside the garage. Cracking the door is not enough to counter the fumes if the car is left running for long, he said.
“Last thing we want to see somebody go out, start the car in the garage, they go back in, they become distracted and carbon dioxide builds up pretty soon as building up in the home,” Pruitt said.
People should also make sure to clean their vehicles off before driving, he said.
