South Bend, IN – Northern Indiana and the Michiana region are heading toward a sharply colder Thanksgiving Day, with highs only just above freezing and the chance for scattered lake-effect snow showers, according to the National Weather Service in Northern Indiana. Temperatures will fall into the upper teens and lower 20s Thanksgiving morning, setting up a chilly and brisk holiday.
According to the National Weather Service, an active early-week pattern brings rain late Monday night into Tuesday. Lingering showers continue Wednesday before colder air funnels across Lake Michigan. By Thanksgiving Day, winds shift to the northwest, opening the door for lake-effect bands to develop—mainly impacting communities near and west of US-31, as well as along the Michigan state line.
Locations from Michigan City, La Porte, and South Bend up to Niles, Buchanan, and Berrien County could see intermittent bursts of snow. While widespread accumulations aren’t expected, localized coatings are possible under any stronger bands. Roads may briefly become slick during heavier bursts, especially on untreated surfaces.
Elsewhere across northern Indiana—including Warsaw, Rochester, and Fort Wayne—Thanksgiving remains mainly dry but noticeably cold, with highs staying in the 32–36 degree range. Cloud cover and breezy northwest winds will enhance the chill throughout the afternoon.
Travelers heading toward I-94, the Toll Road, US-12, and Lake Michigan shoreline routes should remain alert for sudden visibility changes and patchy snow. Conditions improve Thursday night as winds diminish and snow showers taper off.
