Northern Indiana is waking up to treacherous roads, deep snow, and biting wind chills as a sprawling winter storm system tightens its grip on the Midwest.

From the Lake Michigan shoreline to the Ohio state line, a patchwork of winter storm warnings, local travel advisories, and watches is reshaping how residents, truckers, and travelers move through the region on Monday, January 26, 2026.

Authorities are urging drivers to slow down, rethink nonessential trips, and prepare for conditions that could deteriorate quickly with each passing band of snow and gust of wind.

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Storm System Blankets the Region With Heavy Snow and Deep Cold

The current round of winter weather is the latest punch from a storm complex that has stretched across much of the United States over the past several days, dropping heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain from Texas to New England. In Indiana, the focus has been on substantial snow totals and rapidly falling temperatures that are combining to make even main routes hazardous at times.

In northern Indiana, the National Weather Service office in Northern Indiana has maintained a Winter Storm Warning for a swath of counties that includes DeKalb, Whitley, Allen, Cass, Miami, Wabash, and Huntington through the overnight hours into early Monday. Forecasts called for total snow accumulations in the 5 to 7 inch range, with the highest amounts generally along and south of U.S. 24. The warning text has consistently emphasized that travel could be very difficult, particularly in open areas prone to drifting.

Farther west along the Lake Michigan corridor, the National Weather Service in Chicago placed Lake and Porter counties under a Winter Weather Advisory, citing periods of heavy snow into Sunday evening and additional accumulations of up to several inches. By late Sunday, most of the heaviest snow had tapered off, but forecasters warned that blowing and drifting would linger, especially as wind chills near 20 below begin to settle in across parts of northwest Indiana.

Statewide, the storm’s punch has not been limited to snowfall totals. The National Weather Service office in Indianapolis has noted that even where accumulating snow has diminished, the combination of strong winds and bitter cold is expected to keep conditions dangerous for drivers, especially overnight and during the Monday morning commute. In central Indiana, warnings have highlighted the potential for 8 to 12 inches of snow in some counties along with significant blowing and drifting that could rapidly reduce visibility.

County Travel Advisories Tighten Across Northern Indiana

As the snow piled up over the weekend, county emergency management agencies across northern Indiana moved to restrict travel in stages, invoking the state’s tiered system of advisories, watches, and warnings. By early Monday, multiple media outlets were reporting that most counties in the Michiana region were under either an advisory or a more serious watch level, following a night of heavy snow and extreme cold.

Television stations covering the South Bend and Elkhart markets reported that seven of nine northern Indiana counties in their viewing area were under a travel watch, with the remaining two under an advisory. Counties listed under a watch included Elkhart, Fulton, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Marshall, Pulaski, and Starke. LaPorte and St. Joseph counties were generally described as remaining at the advisory level, considered the lowest rung on the state’s three-tier travel status ladder.

These local designations, which are communicated through the Indiana Department of Homeland Security’s centralized travel status system, are more than labels. An advisory signals that routine travel may be restricted in certain areas and that motorists should use heightened caution. A watch indicates that conditions are threatening to public safety and that only essential travel, such as commuting to work or responding to emergencies, is recommended. Some communities farther south have already moved to a full travel warning, which restricts road use to emergency management personnel and other critical travel, but in much of northern Indiana, authorities are hoping that urging residents to voluntarily stay off the roads will ease the strain on plow crews and first responders.

County officials stress that conditions can vary widely within a single jurisdiction, with open rural roads often becoming impassable before traffic-heavy corridors in larger towns. Drivers crossing county lines may encounter sudden changes in policy, from advisory to watch, and are being urged to check local information sources before setting out.

Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana Grapple With Difficult Travel

In northeast Indiana, including the Fort Wayne area, the weekend storm has pushed communities to the edge of their winter operations plans. Regional outlets serving Allen, DeKalb, Whitley, Wabash, and surrounding counties have highlighted the dual concerns of accumulating snow and severe wind chills, with localized totals of more than half a foot and snow drifts forming along rural highways and county roads.

The Fort Wayne area was placed under a Winter Storm Warning through the early hours of Monday, with the National Weather Service warning of additional accumulations on top of snow that had already fallen, as well as rapidly deteriorating conditions after dark. Public safety alerts circulated through state and local channels underscored that the hazardous conditions could significantly impact the Monday morning commute, particularly on untreated side streets, bridges, and overpasses.

Officials and local broadcasters throughout northeast Indiana reported that travel advisories had been issued for several counties on Sunday as the worst of the storm passed through. Although many major routes remained technically open, law enforcement urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and to allow more time and distance if they needed to drive. State and county plow crews were out through the night, but blowing snow repeatedly covered cleared lanes, and drifting around open fields and overpasses created unexpected whiteout pockets.

With schools and some businesses announcing delays or closures, the emphasis from local leaders has shifted toward keeping vehicles off the roads until daylight and additional cleanup efforts improve visibility and traction. Drivers venturing out early were advised to carry winter survival gear in their vehicles, including blankets, food, water, and a flashlight, in case they become stranded or encounter an extended closure.

Michiana Corridor Sees Watches, Advisories and Subzero Wind Chills

Along the Michigan border, the Michiana region has been especially hard hit by the interplay of lake-effect enhancement, strong winds, and a frigid air mass trailing the primary storm system. Media outlets in South Bend, Elkhart, and surrounding communities have reported multiple rounds of travel advisories since mid-January, culminating in the broad watch and advisory pattern that took hold on Sunday and Monday.

Earlier in the month, residents had already endured a significant lake-effect snow event associated with a powerful cold front, which left behind deep snow bands and a reminder of how quickly conditions can change near Lake Michigan. The current storm has tapped into some of the same dynamics, though with more widespread system snow and less localized banding.

On Monday, several Michiana counties remained under a travel watch as the region coped with fresh accumulations and wind chills dropping to near 20 below in some inland areas. Broadcast meteorologists stressed that while the snow intensity had eased compared with Sunday’s peak, any lingering flurries combined with blowing snow could rapidly create icy patches, particularly on roads that had been partially cleared. Officials warned that even short trips could become hazardous if a vehicle becomes stuck in a drift or breaks down with dangerously cold air settling in.

Local emergency management agencies continued to update the Indiana travel status system as conditions evolved, and law enforcement reiterated the guidance that motorists should slow down, avoid sudden lane changes, and keep extra distance from snowplows operating at reduced speeds. Residents were also encouraged to check in on neighbors, particularly older adults or those without reliable heat or transportation, as the cold snap deepens.

How Indiana’s Three-Level Travel System Works

For visitors and even some longtime residents, the color-coded map of county travel statuses can be confusing at first glance. Indiana’s three-level structure is designed to provide a clear, statewide language for describing what is happening on the roads, while also allowing local officials to respond to specific conditions in their communities.

The lowest tier is the travel advisory, commonly represented in yellow on state maps. An advisory means routine travel might be restricted in some areas due to hazardous conditions and that drivers should exercise caution or avoid the most affected zones. This level often accompanies early or moderate snow events, as well as periods of high winds, localized flooding, or ice.

The next level is a travel watch, often shown in orange. A watch indicates that conditions are threatening to the safety of the public. Under a watch, only essential travel is recommended, such as commuting to and from work, responding to emergencies, or other critical trips. Businesses, schools, and government agencies are encouraged to activate their emergency action plans, which can include remote work arrangements, schedule changes, or temporary closures.

The highest level is a travel warning, typically displayed in red. A warning is issued when conditions have deteriorated to the point that the general public should not be on the roads. Under a warning, travel is restricted to emergency management workers, first responders, and other personnel responding to the crisis. Warnings are often accompanied by formal local disaster emergency declarations, such as the one recently issued by the city of Loogootee in southern Indiana following heavy snowfall, drifting, and plunging temperatures. While that example is outside northern Indiana, it illustrates the type of conditions authorities hope to avoid through earlier advisories and watches.

Cold Weather Compounds Risk for Stranded Drivers

While many travelers focus on snow totals, officials in Indiana are equally concerned about the dangerous cold trailing the storm system. Offices of the National Weather Service serving the state have issued a mix of cold weather advisories and extreme cold warnings, with wind chills in parts of northern Indiana projected to drop to 20 below zero or lower during the coldest overnight periods.

In Porter County and other areas near Lake Michigan, a Cold Weather Advisory highlighted the increased risk of frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Residents are being urged to limit time outdoors, bundle up with hats and gloves, and avoid becoming stranded far from shelter. For motorists, those warnings are especially important, as a minor slide-off or mechanical issue could quickly escalate if help is delayed and wind chills remain dangerously low.

Public safety alerts accompanying the winter storm warnings have consistently advised drivers to keep an emergency kit in their vehicles. Standard recommendations include a flashlight, extra batteries, blankets, nonperishable food, water, and a fully charged mobile phone. In rural stretches of northern Indiana, where cell service can be inconsistent and houses are spaced far apart, such preparations can be critical in the event of a breakdown or sudden road closure.

Hospitals and emergency medical services across the region are also on watch for hypothermia and frostbite cases, particularly among people experiencing homelessness, those working in outdoor or roadside jobs, and drivers who may underestimate how quickly conditions can deteriorate. Local agencies are coordinating to open warming centers where necessary and to conduct outreach to vulnerable populations during the worst of the cold.

What Travelers Should Expect on Northern Indiana Roads

For those who must be on the move through northern Indiana on Monday and in the days ahead, authorities emphasize that planning and flexibility will be essential. While interstates and major highways typically receive priority treatment from state transportation crews, even those routes can be partially snow covered and slick, particularly in the early morning and late evening hours when temperatures are lowest.

Travelers can expect to encounter narrowed lanes due to snow piles, reduced visibility from blowing and drifting snow, and slower traffic behind plow convoys operating at reduced speed. Bridges, overpasses, and ramps will remain trouble spots, frequently icing over before adjacent roadway surfaces. Rural county roads, especially those running through flat, open fields, will likely see the worst drifting and occasional near-whiteout conditions as winds continue to gust.

Officials advise motorists to reduce speed, increase following distance, and avoid using cruise control on snowy or icy pavement. Commercial drivers are being urged to check their routes for local restrictions and to be prepared for intermittent closures, particularly in counties that escalate their travel status from advisory to watch or warning. Visitors unfamiliar with Indiana’s travel system are encouraged to monitor local radio and television stations or official county and state channels for the latest updates, and to have a backup plan in case travel becomes impractical.

With another round of subzero wind chills expected to linger beyond the storm itself, the region is bracing for an extended period of winter hazards even after the last flakes fall. For now, the message from emergency managers, meteorologists, and law enforcement across northern Indiana is straightforward: if you can stay home, do so; if you must travel, be prepared, stay alert, and give snowplows and fellow drivers plenty of room to navigate the storm’s aftermath.