INDIANAPOLIS — We've mentioned several times this week that the approaching winter system comes with two waves of moisture. The first arrives this evening and overnight with mainly light snow, sleet, and some freezing drizzle. While light in nature, any precipitation will make untreated surfaces slick and we're urging caution if you're traveling tonight into Friday morning.
The second wave of moisture, and one that produces the greater travel troubles, arrives 2-3 p.m. Thursday afternoon in the form of snow, sleet, freezing, and/or cold rain depending on your location.
At this time, we're still expecting mainly snow and some sleet north of I-74/70 where 2"-4" snow/sleet is forecast.
The metro area will be in the "mixing bowl" with wave 2 and the precipitation will vary from sleet, freezing rain, to at times mainly a cold rain, keeping in mind that only slight changes in temperatures aloft and at the surface will change what's falling.
Total snow amounts for Indy with both waves ranges from a dusting to 2" with up to .10" of ice potential.
Farther south Thursday will be freezing rain to cold rain. Surface temperatures should warm enough there to make the roads mainly wet at times.
This is still a changeable forecast based on the slight temperature changes that could make bigger changes to amounts and types.
All of central Indiana will be in a Winter Weather Advisory beginning at 2 p.m. Thursday and lingering to Friday 4 a.m. Upgrades to a Winter Storm Warning are possible IF temperatures remain cold enough to allow for higher totals of snow/ice than forecast at this time. Check back for more.
