A brutal blast of Arctic air is gripping northern Indiana this morning, marking one of the coldest starts to December in decades. Bitter winds off Lake Michigan are stirring flurries, and the air feels sharp enough to sting your skin within minutes. Roads glisten under a pale winter sun as temperatures struggle to rise out of the 20s.
The National Weather Service in Northern Indiana says lingering lake-effect snow showers near Lake Michigan will taper through the day, but a second, more organized band of snow is expected to develop Wednesday afternoon into early Thursday. Areas near LaPorte, South Bend, and Goshen could pick up 1 inch or more of fresh accumulation, especially north of U.S. 30 and along the I-94 corridor.
Behind that system, a surge of Arctic air will sweep across the region Thursday night, driving lows to near zero degrees and pushing wind chills well below zero. Meteorologists warn this could be the coldest first week of December since 1950, fueled by fresh snowpack and a persistent northerly wind.
By Friday morning, temperatures across much of northern Indiana and southwest Michigan will bottom out between -2°F and 5°F, with wind chills dipping to -10°F or lower at times. Even daytime highs will struggle to climb above the low 20s heading into the weekend.
Residents should prepare for dangerous cold — bundle up, limit time outdoors, and protect pets and exposed pipes. Those commuting early Thursday and Friday should watch for black ice on rural roads and untreated surfaces.
The deep freeze may ease slightly early next week, but another blast of Arctic air could arrive by mid-December.
How are temperatures holding in your town this morning? Share your readings — and how you’re staying warm — as northern Indiana endures this frigid early-December chill.
