Potential Major Winter Storm - MAJOR EXTREME COLD NEXT WEEK

Good afternoon.  We are still dealing with widespread snow showers this afternoon, and it is very cold, the wind makes it feel like zero at times!  Much of central and northern Indiana ended up with 3-6" of snow.  Note that there was a sharp cut-off to the south, with almost no snow at all south of Bedford.  This is due to the warmer air holding on longer than expected last night, really limiting accumulations.  Here is a look at how much snow has fallen in the past 24 hours:

It gets very brutally cold tonight, but NOTHING when compared to what comes in a few days.  Lows tonight will range from 0 to a bit below that north of Indy, to the single digits across southern Indiana.  The good news is that no snow is in the forecast for Friday.  In fact, we should see plenty of sunshine.  However, expect a very cold day with highs on reaching the teens in snow-packed areas, to the 20's in areas with little or no snow on the ground.  Saturday we BRIEFLY warm up well into the 30's.  Word of advice: you better get out and enjoy every bit of it - because it will be a long time before we see temps that warm again!

Sunday, we will have a strong storm system that will develop across an arctic front that will be pushing into the Ohio Valley.  Here is the set-up:

Such a track should bring a significant amount of snow to a good chunk of Indiana.  NOTE: the exact track is not set in stone, and the track will be key to which areas see the heaviest snow.  Right now most models that I will lean on for my forecast place the heaviest snow across the heart of central Indiana.  There is potential for 8-12" for a good part of the area.  Be sure to stay close to the forecast over the next couple of days as the track/amounts become a more certain thing. 

Another thing to note is that it will be very windy as the storm moves through especially by Sunday night.  This could create blizzard conditions.  Those winds will usher in barbaric cold.  Temps PLUMMET to below zero Sunday night with wind chills approaching 20 below.  That isn't even the worst yet!  

My mind is BOGGLED just at the thought of how cold all the models are showing next Monday and Tuesday.  MANY AREAS WILL STAY BELOW ZERO FOR AT LEAST 48 HOURS!!!  Lows Monday and Tuesday night could approach -15 to -25.  Wind chills 30 to 40 below zero.  Highs will likely stay at or below zero.  I have never, ever experienced temperatures this cold, and this is the coldest period of weather that Indiana will have seen since 1994.  Some areas could actually hit or break ALL-TIME COLDEST TEMPERATURES EVER RECORDED!! 

I will continue to update the blog and Facebook as the storm and major cold snap approaches.  Thanks for reading, have a great evening!