Photo by Mark Webber | The Republic A tree blew into a home in the Everroad Park East neighborhood in Columbus during strong wind gusts Friday morning.
Winter arrives for real this weekend.
Forecasts show a dangerous arctic air mass will spread across south central Indiana today and Sunday and remain through at least Tuesday.
Air temperatures will fall to below zero for parts of the region Sunday night and Monday night, according to the National Weather Service. Wind chills may approach 20 degrees below zero in Bartholomew and surrounding counties by Tuesday morning.
Bartholomew County Emergency Management Director Shannan Cooke reminds motorists that roadways may become slick as temperatures drop and surfaces freeze.
The extreme cold spell comes after heavy rains, wind gusts of up to 55 mph, and power outages greeted those heading to work Friday morning.
At 7:55 a.m. Friday, Duke Energy reported 309 homes and businesses without electricity in an area stretching from Elizabethtown northeast to Burnsville, and then south to Grammer. There were 159 outages reported by Duke Energy customers northwest of Columbus in the Cornbrook and Lowell additions. Smaller outages were called in from the Azalia and Jonesville areas.
Seymour had more than 2,000 homes and businesses that lost their electricity Friday morning.
Customers of Bartholomew County REMC got off easy by comparison, according to utility spokeswoman Marty Lasure. At mid-morning Friday, the rural cooperative reported 275 outages Friday morning, but Lasure said power was restored to all but 30 homes and businesses by 11 a.m. The outages were not in any general area, but spread out throughout the county, she said.
Downed trees were reported around Goeller Road in the Tipton Lakes area, according to Columbus police. Bartholomew County Sheriff deputies said they saw a number of fallen trees, along with power lines, on various county roads.
In the Everroad Park East neighborhood, strong wind gusts blew over a pine tree onto the home of Rob and Barbie Thompson, 3129 32nd St. After landing on the edge of the garage shortly after 8 a.m., the tree snapped, with the upper section falling on top of the one-story ranch home. Rob Thompson said it appears damage was minimal and the home is insured.
The majority of Bartholomew County was expected to receive up to 1-and-a-half inches of rain through Friday night, while up to 2 inches was expected on the county’s west side, Cooke said. She expressed concerned that water from the heavy rains would pool on roadways, causing slick driving conditions as temperatures drop into the low 20s early Saturday morning.
While only an inch of snow was expected and the wind advisory was set to expire at 4 a.m. Saturday, conditions will remain blustery throughout Saturday afternoon. Even an inch of snow could still cause visibility problems if it is blowing, Cooke said.
The Arctic air mass arrives in earnest Saturday night, with wind chill values as low as 8 degrees below zero toward daybreak Sunday. Lows Sunday and Monday nights could be below zero with wind chills down to -20 degrees possible, the National Weather Service said.
For those in need of a warming center, the Brighter Days Homeless Shelter, 421 S. Mapleton St. will be open from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. and the Community Engagement Center will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Starting Saturday, ColumBUS will make one trip each day at 7:45 a.m. from Brighter Days to the Community Engagement Center, so clients will not have to walk.
From Sunday through Tuesday night, the bitterly cold temperatures will raise concerns for ice jams along area rivers and streams.
Although temperatures will remain near steady Wednesday, conditions should improve with sunshine and calmer winds.
Warming centers
For those in need of a warming center, the Brighter Days Homeless Shelter, 421 S. Mapleton St. will be open from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. and the Community Engagement Center will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Starting Saturday, ColumBUS will make one trip each day at 7:45 a.m. from Brighter Days to the Community Engagement Center, so clients will not have to walk.
Bartholomew County Emergency Management offers the following tips to prepare residents for the season’s first significant cold spell.
Travelling
- Roadways may become slick after as temperatures drop and surfaces freeze.
- High winds and blowing snow may reduce visibility.
- Allow extra distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.
- Allow extra time for starting and stopping your vehicle.
- Be sure to clear ice and/or snow from all windows of your vehicle for better visibility.
- Check the travel status of all Indiana counties at in.gov/dhs/traveladvisory. Traffic issues for state roads are available online at 511in.org.
Protect Yourself:
- Limit your time outside.
- Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing.
- Wear a hat. Try to stay dry and out of the wind.
- Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold.
- Mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves.
- Watch for frostbite and know the signs of hypothermia.
Protect Your Pets
- Bring pets inside.
- Limit their time outside.
- Provide shelter and fresh water.
- Keep salt away from paws.
Home Precautions:
- In extreme cold temperatures, allow faucets to drip slowly to keep pipes from freezing.
- Open cabinets under the sink to allow warmer air to circulate around plumbing.
- Know where and how to shut off water in case of a ruptured pipe.
- Do not use a stove, oven or grill to heat your home.
- Place space heaters on level, hard surfaces at least three feet from anything flammable. Never leave a working space heater unattended.
- In the event of a power outage, utilize flashlights and lanterns. Avoid using candles.
