A winter storm that is predicted to bring heavy snowfall to northern Indiana today could have the potential to coat the Bartholomew County area with up to 2 inches of snow by the end of the weekend.
The National Weather Service predicted a chance of snow which increases throughout the day today for Columbus and Bartholomew County, with temperatures reaching a high of 37 degrees.
A chance of rain or snow remains in the forecast for the local area on Sunday with a high reaching 35 degrees.
Weather service forecasters say any predicted snow for southeastern Indiana may transition to a cold rain late Saturday into Sunday, or possibly a winter mix.
For Indianapolis, The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch in effect through Sunday afternoon. Forecasters predict 3 to 6 inches of snow is possible in Indianapolis Saturday and Sunday.
In central Indiana, the weather service says Indianapolis and selected counties could see from 3 to 7 inches of snow: Boone, Carroll, Clay, Clinton, Delaware, Fountain, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Henry, Howard, Madison, Marion, Montgomery, Parke, Putnam, Randolph, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Vermillion, Vigo, Warren and Wayne.
In northern Indiana, the weather service says accumulations from 5 to 12 inches are possible in these counties: Adams, Allen, Blackford, Cass, De Kalb, Elkhart, Fulton, Grant, Huntington, Jay, Kosciusko, La Porte, Lagrange, Marshall, Miami, Noble, Pulaski, St. Joseph, Starke, Steuben, Wabash, Wells, White and Whitley.
In northwest Indiana, the weather service says accumulations in excess of 6 inches are possible in these counties: Benton, Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter.
“Travel could be very difficult,” the weather service said in its watch for central Indiana issued Thursday afternoon.
The weather service also cautioned that whatever freezing precipitation comes, it could stick around for a while, as temperatures will be no warmer than the teens and 20s after the storm moves through and into at least early next week.
Also, more snow is possible for the Indianapolis area on Monday.
