After enduring temperatures well below freezing, frigid wind chills and about three inches of snow over the weekend, Northwest Indiana is headed for warmer days later this week.
On Monday, though, after a snowstorm threatened to roar before coming in with a wimper Sunday afternoon, people taking advantage of the Presidents Day holiday took to parks around Lake and Porter counties. With spring-like temperatures predicted for the ended of the week, bundling up and enjoying a little sledding or other snowy pursuits was an attraction for many.
But the weekend’s cold and snow was pretty typical of the overall winter so far, Andrew Krein, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Romeoville, Ill., said.
“That’s kind of been the story so far this winter, that variability,” Krein said.
Snowfall for the Chicago metro area is about 10 inches under the normal average of 24 inches during the period of Dec. 1 to now, Krein said, but when officials factor in a snowstorm that hit just before Thanksgiving, the area is at the normal average of 25 inches for the season overall.
Krein noted that although a mild December saw warmer-than-average temperatures, January was right around the historical average, and February, with the cold spell over the past weekend, is actually a little below normal. Krein noted that Sunday’s high was 17 degrees below the normal high for Valentine’s Day of 35 degrees.
Yet the region will see an even bigger swing to the other side by Friday with an expected high of 54 degrees, he said.
The overall weather has been a boon for the Indiana Department of Transportation’s stock of salt but is already creating problems with potholes, Doug Moats, INDOT spokesman, said.
Although he didn’t have set numbers, Moats said the department was using less road salt than normal throughout the season as of last week, which doesn’t count Sunday’s snow.
“It hasn’t been all that of an active weekend,” he said.
Moats said that INDOT used a standard crew to battle Sunday’s snow and had most roads cleared by Monday morning, although he added that crews continued to work to dry the roads throughout Monday to avoid any further problems.
“We’re looking forward to warmer weather,” he said.
At the same time, warmer weather can lead to more potholes. Moats said crews normally don’t have to address potholes until closer to spring but that they’ve been doing so throughout this winter season.
However, no large problem areas have popped up so far this year, he said.
As for Sunday’s snow, Indiana State Police Sgt. Dan Leslie reported that Interstate 94 in Porter County did have some slideoffs reported, although none of caused serious damage. He praised the INDOT crews for keeping the roads cleared but cautioned drivers to still slow down and put more space in between them and other vehicles.
“It’s pretty much on the drivers,” he said.
The forecast
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures in Northwest Indiana could get to the high 50s by Friday.
Tuesday – High of 36, with a slight chance of snow Tuesday night.
Wednesday – High of 34.
Thursday – High of 40.
Friday – Windy, with a high of 57 and a slight chance of rain.
Saturday – High of 49.
