INDIANA – A significant Arctic cold front is set to impact Indiana this weekend, with temperatures plunging into the teens on Sunday and overnight lows expected to dip just below zero.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a hazardous weather outlook for several counties, including Brown, Jackson, Lawrence, Morgan, Owen, Greene, and Monroe, where temperatures will stay dangerously low for several days.
According to the NWS, Monday’s daytime high will barely exceed 10 degrees, and temperatures will remain 20 to 30 degrees below normal through Tuesday.
While winds will remain light, meaning wind chill will not be a major factor, the prolonged cold poses serious risks, particularly to vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those experiencing homelessness.
This cold front is part of a more extensive system that will bring colder-than-usual temperatures to much of the United States. However, snow is unlikely in Indiana, as most of the moisture associated with the system is expected to remain south of the state.
While the frigid temperatures are expected to last through Tuesday, warmer conditions are forecast for Wednesday, with temperatures rising toward normal by Thursday or Friday, when daytime highs will reach the 30s.
The primary concern remains the prolonged cold, which can be especially hazardous to individuals without access to proper heating or shelter. Monroe County Emergency Management urges residents to take precautions by dressing in layers and limiting outdoor time. Those who must travel are advised to prepare by bringing extra equipment, such as blankets, to ensure they stay warm if stranded.
In response to the cold, Monroe County has opened several warming stations for residents needing a safe place to stay warm. The stations will be open Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, with the following locations and hours:
Open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.:
- Bloomington Fire Station 1 (Headquarters), 300 East Fourth Street
- Ellettsville Fire Department Headquarters, 5080 State Road 46 West, Ellettsville
- Monroe Fire Protection District — Perry, 3953 South Kennedy Drive, Bloomington
- Monroe Fire Protection District — Clear Creek, 9094 Sout Strain Ridge Road, Bloomington
- Monroe Fire Protection District — Indiana Creek, 8019 South Rockport Road, Bloomington
- Monroe Fire Protection District — Bloomington, 5081 Old Ind. 37 North, Bloomington
- Monroe Fire Protection District — Van Buren, 2130 South Kirby Road, Bloomington
Open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.:
- Downtown Library Branch, 303 East Kirkwood Avenue
Open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.:
- Southwest Library Branch, 890 West Gordon Pike
- Ellettsville Library Branch, 600 West Temperance Street
Residents are encouraged to use these warming stations to stay safe and protect themselves from the dangerous cold in the coming days.
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