Winter is going to be hitting Indiana and Michigan hard in the coming days, with up to a foot of snow and strong winds on the way.
A “Winter Storm Warning” has been issued for northwestern Indiana and southeastern Michigan, effective through 1 p.m. ET Thursday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Other parts of the area are under a slightly less severe “Winter Weather Advisory” through the same time period.
‘Heavy’ snow, dangerous roads forecasted
Per the NWS, the following counties in Indiana and Michigan are under a “Winter Storm Warning,” via the Indianapolis Star.
- Starke
- Marshall
- Northern La Porte
- Southern La Porte
- Eastern St. Joseph
- Western St. Joseph
- Northern Berrien
- Southern Berrien
“Heavy lake effect snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 6 and 12 inches. Locally higher amounts are possible, especially in Berrien County, MI,” the NWS said. “N-NW Winds gusting as high as 40 to 45 mph, highest near Lake Michigan. This will lead to blowing and drifting snow, especially on E-W oriented roads.”
Cass County in Michigan also falls under the jurisdiction of the NWS alert. The Wednesday evening and Thursday morning commutes will be adversely affected.
“Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous.,” the warning reads. ‘Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile due to falling and blowing snow. Whiteout conditions are expected and will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening.”
Plenty of snow will fall across Michigan and Indiana over the next 7 days, as intense lake effect snow bands will set up tomorrow and Thursday, and occur again over the weekend! ❄️ pic.twitter.com/tCme4UGdmi
— Max Velocity (@MaxVelocityWX) January 14, 2026
If you do have to travel in these areas, here’s what to know
The Indiana Department of Transportation provides winter driving safety guidelines on its official website.
These include:
- Be aware of driving conditions when leaving the home and give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination
- Clean any snow or ice off your vehicle’s windows, lights, brake lights and signals
- Keep a winter survival kit in your car in case of emergency
- Leave extra room between yourself and the vehicle in front of you
- Brake early, brake slowly, and never slam on the brakes
- Always remain aware of your surroundings and other cars on the road
To read through the full list of safety tips, click here.
