NORTHERN INDIANA — The National Weather Service office in Fort Wayne is predicting lake-effect snow squalls that will drop new snow across north central and northeast Indiana through Saturday. Another weather system brings increasing snow chances statewide beginning on Sunday.

Indiana Department of Transportation maintenance supervisors will continue to monitor evolving weather forecasts this weekend. Drivers are urged to do the same and to schedule optional trips when snow is not forecast.

INDOT will deploy its yellow plow trucks before snow and ice is predicted to accumulate on interstates, U.S. highways and state roads. Each plow route takes two to three hours to complete with salt assisting in melting between passes.

“Snow squalls” predicted for north central Indiana are isolated storms that combine heavy snowfall with surface wind gusts up to 30 miles per hour. Such storms produce sudden reductions in road conditions and visibility with near whiteout conditions, which increase chances for multi-vehicle crashes.

Drivers who see a “wall” of snow ahead associated with a snow squall should immediately take the following steps to improve visibility and safety:

• Before leaving, fully clear off your front and rear windshields and side mirrors.
• Choose direct routes instead of longer trips on higher-speed roads and highways.
• Take your foot off the gas and turn off cruise control, especially on high-speed highways. No one should travel at interstate speeds during winter weather. Law enforcement will write citations for drivers going faster than conditions merit and putting others in harm’s way.
• Use low-beam lamps if your vehicle is equipped.
• Increase following distance so you can barely see the taillights of any vehicles in front of you.
• Turn on emergency flashers if you are stopped or traveling slower than other vehicles.
• If you need to stop, try to exit or turn off the main highway. If you must stop on the shoulders, pull as far away from the travel lanes as possible.
• Regularly fill your gas tank and charge your mobile phone.
• Apply anti-lock brakes firmly. Pump brakes that are not anti-lock.
• Do not overcorrect with steering.

Temperatures are expected to remain below freezing all weekend, requiring road salt to melt snow and ice. Granular salt helps add traction while lowering the temperature at which the ice melts. INDOT may mix road salt with sand or specialty chemicals that help it work more effectively in sub-freezing temperatures.

These conditions increase the chances of melt-water refreezing into black ice or slick spots that may be difficult for drivers to distinguish from dry pavement. Areas that receive less direct sunlight are common places for slick spots. Even four-wheel-drive vehicles and large trucks are no match if all tires are on ice.

Drivers can access several state resources to, “know before you go.”

Counties post travel advisories as new information is available here or the Indiana Travel Advisory app for iPhone or Android.

INDOT maintenance staff report color-coded winter driving conditions on INDOT’s TrafficWise map. Road conditions are defined as gray, good, the road is clear; blue, fair, speed is reduced due to isolated patches of snow and ice; and violet, difficult or hazardous, speed is reduced due to snow and/or ice covered pavement.

Dial INDOT’s hotline toll-free at (800) 261-7623 or 511 from a mobile phone.

Find your regional INDOT district on Facebook and Twitter by clicking here.