Indianapolis, Indiana – As Arctic air settles firmly across Indiana through late January and into early February, the cold gripping the state will feel far more severe than temperatures alone suggest. Gusty winds sweeping across open farmland, city streets, and lake-adjacent communities are accelerating heat loss, creating dangerous wind chill conditions statewide.
According to the National Weather Service, wind chill measures how quickly exposed skin loses heat when wind strips away the thin layer of warmth the body naturally produces. When that layer is removed faster than the body can replace it, skin temperature drops rapidly, making it feel significantly colder than the actual air temperature and increasing the risk of frostbite and hypothermia.
Indiana’s landscape amplifies this effect. In northern Indiana, winds off Lake Michigan funnel into Gary, Michigan City, and South Bend, intensifying cold along shorelines, highways, and industrial corridors. Even inland, flat terrain offers little resistance to Arctic air, allowing steady winds to sweep across counties with minimal interruption. Central Indiana, including Indianapolis and surrounding suburbs, experiences sharp bursts of wind-driven cold along open interstates, river crossings, and downtown corridors. Farther south, communities near the Ohio River see wind channeled through valleys, prolonging exposure during overnight and early morning hours.
Wind chill does not freeze pipes or vehicles below the actual air temperature, but it freezes people faster. Exposed skin on hands, ears, noses, and faces can develop frostbite in as little as 10 to 15 minutes when wind chills plunge into dangerous territory. Children, older adults, outdoor workers, and unhoused populations face elevated risk. Pets left outdoors, even for short periods, can lose body heat rapidly despite thick fur.
Residents are urged to limit time outdoors, dress in layered, wind-resistant clothing, fully cover exposed skin, and check on neighbors during the coldest periods. With Arctic air expected to linger into early February, additional cold-related advisories and warnings may be issued as wind and temperature continue to combine into hazardous conditions across Indiana.
