Emergency Management warns of second weather system arriving late tonight and continuing through Sunday

COLUMBUS, Ind. — The second weather system of the week is expected to hit Bartholomew County starting late tonight and continuing through Sunday, Bartholomew County Emergency Management said.

• Rain moving in west to east late tonight/early tomorrow morning.
• Gusty winds will be a main feature with this system: 30-40 mph are expected Friday afternoon which will increase to 40-50 mph in the evening to overnight hours.
• Gusts over 50 mph Friday night will be possible.
• Saturday into Sunday will still be breezy with gusts of 25-35 mph expected.
• In total, expecting 1-2 inches of rain/liquid precipitation late Thursday through Saturday.  One inch or less is expected as snow for our area.  Anywhere from a few tenths of snowfall accumulation up to about 2.5 inches is expected at this time across the area. These numbers could change if the snow transitions faster or slower than currently forecasted.
• Highs for Friday are in the 40’s with colder air for the weekend and beyond, highs in the teens. Lows Sunday and Monday nights could be below 0 degrees with wind chills down to -25 degrees possible.

Timing:

• Rain will begin around 10 PM.
• Rain to snow transition will start Friday evening and be all snow by midnight.
• Precipitation will end around 1 AM Saturday.

Travel Conditions:

• During periods of rain, water may pool on the roadway.
• Heavy rainfall may decrease visibility.
• Reminder that roadways may become slick after as temperatures drop and surfaces freeze.
• Allow extra distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.
• Allow extra time for starting and stopping your vehicle.
• Be sure to clear ice and/or snow from all windows of you vehicle for better visibility.
• You can check the travel status of all Indiana counties at www.in.gov/dhs/traveladvisory.
• You can check traffic issues for state roads at 511in.org.

Protect Yourself:

• Limit your time outside.
• Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing.
• Wear a hat. Try to stay dry and out of the wind.
• Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold.
• Mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves.
• Watch for frostbite and know the signs of hypothermia.

Protect Your Pets/Animals:

• Bring pets inside.
• Limit their time outside.
• Provide shelter and fresh water.
• Keep salt away from paws.

Home Precautions:

• In extreme cold temperatures, allow faucets to drip slowly to keep pipes from freezing.
• Open cabinets under the sink to allow warmer air to circulate around plumbing.
• Know where and how to shut off water in case of a ruptured pipe.
• Do NOT use stove, oven, grill, etc. to heat your home.
• Place space heaters on level, hard surfaces at least three (3) feet from anything flammable; never leave unattended.
• In the event of a power outage, utilize flashlights, lanterns, etc. Avoid using candles.