Bloomington and much of Indiana is in store for several inches of snow, along with freezing rain and sleet starting Sunday.
Cody Kirkpatrick, a lecturer in atmospheric science at IU, said he expects about 6 inches of snow, mixed with freezing rain and sleet. It’ll likely start Sunday morning, continuing off and on into Monday.
Kirkpatrick urged students thinking about returning to campus to do so on Saturday or wait until Tuesday.
“Travel is going to be really dangerous, if not impossible on Sunday,” he said. “On Monday, everyone in town will be catching up to clear off the roads and the sidewalks.”
Kirkpatrick said the storm will likely start with snow, with freezing rain and sleet intermixing throughout the storm — making travel riskier.
He said this event has the potential to rival the 2021 storm which brought 8 inches of snow to Bloomington. After the storm is over, Kirkpatrick said, Bloomington can expect cold temperatures until next weekend due to a Canadian air mass moving in.
Justin Baker, deputy director of emergency management for Monroe County, said the county is working with the National Weather Service and the state to prepare for the storm.
People should stay off the road unless they absolutely have to drive, he said. But if travel is necessary, Baker said to try to stay off narrow or country roads.
If staying home, people should prepare for the possibility of power outages. He also said not to panic buy, just get enough food and essentials for your household.
“Check on your elders, check on your neighbors when you can in a safe manner,” he said. “We're all in this together.”
Monroe County Emergency Management will post regular updates on its Facebook page. More details on preparedness are available on the department’s website. People can also sign up for emergency alerts through Monroe County Alert.
