SKYWARN

Wind chill advisory replaces warning, travel remains difficult

Travel conditions map from INDOT
Road conditions in northeastern Indiana as of 4:20 p.m. EST Jan. 7. Purple indicates road conditions are “difficult.” Source: INDOT

The National Weather Service (NWS) has replaced its Wind Chill Warning with a Wind Chill Advisory, which remains in effect until 9 a.m. EST Wednesday, Jan. 8. You can read the full text of the advisory on the NWS website, but the highlights appear below.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER...

 * DEADLY WIND CHILLS BETWEEN 15 BELOW AND 20 BELOW ZERO CAN BE
   EXPECTED THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT.

IMPACTS...

 * FROST BITE AND HYPOTHERMIA WILL OCCUR QUICKLY WITH THESE
   EXPECTED WIND CHILLS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS
WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN
FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.
IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS...MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND
GLOVES.

While the danger of cold is easing, the danger of driving is not. As evidence, check out the numerous reports of roads blocked by crashes, etc. on the Twitter feeds of Indiana Department of Transportation and Indiana State Police. Most of the day, ice melting chemicals have not worked on the roads because of the extreme cold. This has left roads extremely slick and hazardous, even where they’ve been plowed and treated. As the temperature rises tomorrow, road should get much better.

Local travel advisories as of 4:35 p.m. Jan. 7. Red: Travel warning, emergency vehicles only. Orange: Travel watch, only essential travel recommended. Yellow: Travel advisory, routine travel or activities may be restricted in areas because of a hazardous situation. White: No advisory. Source: IDHS

According to the website of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, fewer northern Indiana counties continue to restrict travel to emergencies. Allen County’s travel watch, which recommends essential travel only, remains in effect until further notice, according to a Facebook message.