Subzero temperatures target Indy in U.S. Arctic blast
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
A powerful winter storm continues to traverse the country from west to east, knocking out power, snarling travel and bringing the nation's capital to a virtual standstill.
Why it matters: Central Indiana has seen the worst of the storm's snowfall, but dangerously low temperatures will keep Indianapolis on ice for the rest of the week.
Threat level: The National Weather Service warns of subzero wind chills over the next few days as nighttime temperatures fall into the single digits.
- Plan for a low around 9° Tuesday night, 4° Wednesday night, and 6° Thursday night.
- Marion County remains under an "advisory" travel status, meaning routine travel or activities may be restricted and drivers should use caution.
State of play: According to the National Weather Service, the final snowfall total at the Indy office when the snow stopped falling Monday afternoon was 7.8 inches.
- Locations like the Eagle Creek Reservoir, Columbus and Bloomington got nearly 10 inches.
- Indiana State Police said the conditions had a significant impact on travel. From noon Sunday and into Monday, the Indianapolis District responded to 151 crashes, with 12 injuries and 76 slide-offs.
- Statewide, ISP troopers handled 259 crashes and 271 slide-offs.
Context: The post-storm Arctic outbreak is tied in part to a north-south stretching of the polar vortex, which is an area of low pressure in the upper atmosphere and the air circulation around it.
- The polar vortex is present each winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Other weather features have also opened the Arctic's refrigerator door.
- Studies have linked rapid, human-caused Arctic climate change with shifts in the polar vortex, though this an active debate.
What's next: With frigid air from the Arctic locked in place across the U.S. east of the Rockies, some computer models are projecting the possibility of a Southern snow and ice storm that could affect states from Texas to the Carolinas late this week.
- This storm could intensify into a nor'easter off the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast coast next weekend.
- There is a 60% chance of snow Friday and a 20% chance of snow this weekend in Indianapolis.