Columbus snowplows clear mix of sleet, freezing rain and snow from a storm in February. City and county road crews are gearing up for a winter storm forecast to begin this afternoon.
Republic file photo
8 A.M. UPDATE
Bartholomew County deputies are reporting roadways are freezing and becoming hazardous. Several slide offs and crashes are being reported, temperatures are continuing to drop, and the county has upgraded travel status to a Watch Level, which asks people not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
The temperature at 8 a.m. in Columbus was -7 degrees with a windchill of about -30, according to the National Weather Service. At such temperatures, frostbite occurs on exposed skin in minutes.
“Road conditions will continue to deteriorate as the snow continues to move in and the winds pick up throughout the night,” a county advisory said. “Winds will also impact visibility, so use caution if you have to drive and allow plenty of extra time to reach your destination. If you must travel, make sure to have a vehicle emergency kit with you including extra blankets, bottled water, snacks, jumper cables, and dress in layers. Winds can cause driving issues for all vehicles.”
A travel watch means that conditions are threatening to the safety of the public. During a “watch” local travel advisory, only essential travel, such as to and from work or in emergency situations, is recommended, and emergency action plans should be implemented by businesses, schools, government agencies, and other organizations.
6:30 A.M. UPDATE
The winter storm warning in effect for Bartholomew and surrounding counties has been extended until 7 p.m. this evening. County emergency services said in a statement this morning that those who must travel should expect slippery road conditions.
Dangerous cold, gusty winds resulting in blowing and drifting snow will be prevalent in central, east central, north central and west central Indiana. Widespread blowing
snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions will impact the morning or evening commute.
Dangerously cold wind chill of -25 to -35 will be common today. Wind chills as low as -40 will be possible. The dangerously cold wind chills can cause frostbite on exposed
skin in as little as 10 minutes.
If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.
The latest road conditions for Indiana can be obtained by calling 1-800-261-7623.
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Several Columbus area businesses have announced they will be closed Friday due to inclement weather expected due to an approaching winter storm. Closings include:
- Clarity of South Central Indiana, all locations.
- Promptmed Urgent Care Center, 2505 25th St.
- kidscommoms museum, 309 Washington St.
- Southern Indiana Heart & Vascular – Columbus and Seymour offices.
- Columbus Pediatrics, 1120 N. Marr Road.
- Doctors Park Family Medicine and Rau Family Medicine, 3201 Middle Road.
- Family and Internal Medicine and Columbus Geriatrics and Columbus Family Medicine at Columbus Regional Hospital.
- Columbus Internal Medicine Associates, 4050 Central Ave.
Bartholomew and surrounding counties remain under a Winter Storm Warning beginning at 4 p.m. today and continuing till 1 p.m. Saturday. According to a Thursday morning update, officials urged residents to plan for the following conditons:
- Extremely cold air behind a low pressure system arriving Thursday evening.
- Very windy conditions of 40-50 mph gusts, combined with the cold will create dangerously low wind chills.
- Wind gusts up to 55 mph.
- Wind chills Friday through Sunday as low as -20° to -30°.
- Snowfall amounts expected in the 2 to 4 inch range with pockets of higher amounts.
- Onset timing of flash freeze and subsequent snow has shifted earlier. Flash freeze expected in our area approximately 6 p.m. or shortly after on Thursday evening.
- Current winds for the Bartholomew County area will range between 10 and 45 mph between Thursday and Sunday. Winds of 40 to 50 mph could be expected when the front moves through.
- Friday could bring near-blizzard-like conditions and zero visibility at times, even with lower snowfall amounts. Drifting snow will also cause issues on Friday.
- Additional light snow expected on Friday.
- Any snow pack will result in lower air temperatures Saturday morning.
Indiana Guard mobilized
Approximately 150 Indiana National Guardsmen responded to Gov. Eric Holcomb’s call to assist state and local civil authorities to prevent the loss of life due to severe winter weather conditions throughout the Hoosier state, the Indiana National Guard announced Thursday.
From Indiana Department of Homeland Security guidance, citizen-soldiers will staff command and control nodes in northern parts of the state as well as form highway assistance teams to help stranded motorists.
Nearly 30 highway teams will patrol Hoosier highways in the northern part of the state to assist with stranded motorists and recovery efforts.
The Hoosier Guardsmen will be based in their armories in Gary, South Bend, Fort Wayne, Kokomo, Muncie and Lafayette.
Staying warm
Columbus Parks and Recreation and Bartholomew County Emergency Management has provided the following information for facilities open this weekend in response to frigid temperatures forecast:
Friday, Dec. 23
Hamilton Center, 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The Commons, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Foundation For Youth, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
NexusPark, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
City bus schedule 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 24
The Commons, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
NexusPark, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 25
Brighter Days emergency shelter open all day
All city facilities closed
Monday, Dec. 26
Hamilton Center, 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The Commons, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (playground 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.)
NexusPark, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Brighter Days
Normal hours for Brighter Days emergency shelter, 421 S. Mapleton St., are 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., but hours have been adjusted for the coming days as follows. A meal will be served at the shelter on Friday evening, Saturday evening, and all 3 meals on Sunday. City bus will provide transportation to The Commons at 10 a.m. Saturday, returning to Brighter Days at 6 p.m. Saturday:
Friday, Dec. 23: Shelter adding one hour in morning, open until 9 a.m.
Saturday, Dec. 24: Shelter adding two hours in morning, open till 10 a.m.
Sunday, Dec. 25: Shelter staying open all day long.
Monday, Dec. 26: Shelter adding one hour in morning, open till 9 a.m.
