Indianapolis, Indiana – Another surge of Arctic air is expected to roll back into Indiana and Ohio during the first full week of February, bringing a renewed stretch of bitter cold, subzero wind chills, and fewer opportunities for widespread snowstorms across the region.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, temperatures across the Midwest and Ohio Valley are favored to run well below normal from Friday through the following Thursday as strong Arctic high pressure settles over the eastern half of the country. During the same period, precipitation probabilities lean below average, pointing to a colder but generally drier pattern.
In Indiana, the coldest conditions are expected across northern and central portions of the state, including Fort Wayne, Lafayette, and Indianapolis, where overnight lows could dip into the single digits or below zero. Daytime highs may struggle to climb out of the teens during the coldest stretch, with wind chills falling below zero during morning and overnight hours. Southern Indiana will also feel the cold, though temperatures there may remain just slightly higher.
Across Ohio, similar conditions are expected, especially in northern and western areas from Toledo to Dayton, where Arctic air will keep temperatures sharply below seasonal norms. While Lake Erie can enhance snow in some patterns, the dominant Arctic setup favors dry air, limiting lake-effect activity. Fast-moving clippers or brief lake-enhanced snow showers remain possible but are expected to be limited and spotty.
Residents should prepare for prolonged cold by protecting pipes, checking heating systems, and limiting extended outdoor exposure. Outlooks will continue to be refined as early February approaches, and additional advisories may be issued if the cold intensifies or storm tracks shift.
