Fort Wayne, IN – Border communities across northern Indiana, southwest Michigan, and northwest Ohio will see light snow today followed by a surge of dangerous cold late this week, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) Northern Indiana office.
Forecasters say light snow will develop through the day Wednesday, with most locations picking up around an inch or less of accumulation by early tonight. While totals are modest, even minor snow may lead to slick travel, especially across Elkhart, LaGrange, Steuben, DeKalb, Noble, and surrounding counties in northern Indiana. Similar conditions are expected along the Michigan border from St. Joseph County to Branch County, and east into Williams, Defiance, and Putnam counties in Ohio.
According to the NWS, the coldest conditions arrive Thursday night into early Friday as temperatures drop to near zero and wind chills fall below zero across the entire tri-state region. While the cold risk remains limited, officials caution that exposed skin may begin to feel effects within minutes during the overnight period.
For those near Lake Michigan, a Small Craft Advisory remains in effect until 7 p.m. EST Thursday, covering the nearshore waters from Michigan City, Indiana, to St. Joseph, Michigan. Hazardous waves and strong winds will pose risks to small vessels through Thursday evening.
No spotter activation is expected at this time, though residents are encouraged to monitor updates for changing conditions as colder air settles into the region.
Drivers should be prepared for reduced visibility and briefly slick roadways tonight, especially on untreated surfaces.
