By Ryan Palencer
After the Indianapolis metropolitan area saw between six to eight inches fall Friday and into the weekend, residents must now brace for another round.
According to the National Weather Service of Indianapolis, the brief two-day break that Central Indiana received from snow has come to an end.
Mike Ryan, a meteorologist with the NWS said that Central Indiana will receive between six to eight inches from through Wednesday.
Ryan said that the snow will continue through at least the first half of the day today.
“We might get a brake in the snow (this) afternoon,” he said. “We will catch a second batch of it (tonight) into early Wednesday. Overall, right now we are thinking there could be six to eight inches across Central Indiana by the time that the snow finishes up on Wednesday.”
The storm is expected to cause some headaches during the morning rush hour into Wednesday.
“One significant impact, especially beginning (tonight) and continuing into the day Wednesday, is we are expecting some very strong winds,” Ryan said. “Wind gusts might be up to 35 miles per hour Wednesday. That’s going to lead to significant blowing and drifting snow across the roadways. That will exacerbate the travel difficulties across the region.”
Ryan said that the travel concerns are caused by both the snowfall and the wind.
“I think (the travel issues) will be on par with what we saw Friday and Saturday, if not a little worse,” Ryan said. “The impact will be from the snowfall that will cause the travel difficulties late (Monday) into the day (today). Then when the winds really start cranking up (tonight), even though the snow will be diminishing into early Wednesday, the winds will continue to cause problems on roadways.”
Though Central Indiana is right around the winter average Ryan is expecting the snow totals to go over the average between the snow over the weekend and the snow storm coming.
“Our average snowfall for the winter season typically in Indianapolis is 27 inches,” Ryan said. “We are just over 21.5 right now. With a decent snowfall out of this (storm), we might actually exceed our average for the season.”
Indiana State Police also remind citizens to access road and weather information by visiting the Indiana Department of Transportation’s website at www.trafficwise.in.gov or by calling 800-261-ROAD (7623). The ISP urge citizens to contact the INDOT weather line so their lines may be available for emergencies.
ryan.palencer@flyergroup.com
