Here we go again, another Winter Storm Watch in effect

Friday, February 28, 2014

Another winter storm is poised to bring another mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain to much of Indiana on Sunday, followed by more snow for the entire region Monday, the National Weather Service said Friday.

The Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Putnam County and most of central Indiana from late Saturday through early Monday. In excess of six inches of snow is being predicted for the area, adding to an already historic total for the snowiest Indiana winter on record.

Because of the impending weekend winter storm, City of Greencastle officials are asking residents to avoid parking on city streets after Saturday night.

Mayor Sue Murray is encouraging people not to park on city streets, if they have an alternative, after 11 p.m. Saturday.

"If we do get the anticipated amount of snow," she said, "not having obstacles in the way would most certainly help our Department of Public Works and state crews keep the snow pushed back as much as possible, making the roads wider and parking easier on the days after the anticipated storm."

As of Friday evening, the impending winter weather was listed as a watch because the storm is more than 24 hours away. The watch will be upgraded to a warning as the storm gets closer.

A chance exists for a light snow or light wintry mix late Friday night and early Saturday. Any accumulations will be less than an inch.

Daylight hours on Saturday will be dry, the Weather Service said, with a mix of clouds and sun. Highs will be in the upper 30s and lower 40s.

Precipitation will be likely as early as Saturday night, with snow favored north, and snow/sleet favored further south. A variety of precipitation types may be experienced at any one location Saturday night through Sunday night, with any remaining precipitation transitioning to snow early Monday as the system exits the area and colder air filters in.

At this time, six or more inches of snow and sleet with some light ice appear possible along and north of the Interstate 70 corridor, while south of I-70, 2-6 inches of snow/sleet will be possible

"The cutoff line for more snow and wintry mix keeps fluctuating north and south on computer model runs," WRTV, Channel 6, Indianapolis meteorologist Kevin Gregory said on his station's website. "Any deviation north or south greatly affects snowfall totals."

While accumulations remain a major uncertainty, especially given the extreme sensitivity of mixed precipitation to minute temperature changes, the NWS said it would be wise for central Indiana residents to keep up with the latest forecasts as the weekend approaches, and be prepared for significant wintry precipitation.

In addition to Putnam, the other counties in the watch area are Montgomery, Parke, Hendricks, Clay, Owen, Morgan, Vigo, Carroll, Warren, Vermillion, Tippecanoe, Clinton, Howard, Fountain, Boone, Tipton, Hamilton, Madison, Delaware, Randolph, Marion, Hancock, Henry, Johnson, Shelby, Rush, Sullivan, Greene, Monroe, Brown, Bartholomew, Decatur, Knox, Daviess, Martin, Lawrence, Jackson and Jennings.

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