Freezing rain is coming tonight to Monroe County. Here’s what you need to know

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Indianapolis has issued a winter weather advisory for freezing rain across portions of central, north central, southwest and west central Indiana, in effect till 10 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Freezing rain is expected to begin in Monroe County and its surrounding areas around 11 p.m. tonight, and rain will continue into Tuesday morning.

Mike Ryan, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis, said adverse road conditions are expected to begin as early as sunset tonight as temperatures drop below freezing.

Is freezing rain expected today in Bloomington?

Yes, freezing rain is expected to begin in Monroe County around or after 11 p.m., according to the NWS forecast.

Is freezing rain expected Tuesday in Bloomington?

Freezing rain conditions are expected to continue throughout the early morning and will likely become all rain after 8 a.m., but rain is expected to continue throughout the day, with a 100% chance of precipitation according to the NWS.

What’s causing the freezing rain in Indiana?

Ryan said the past several days of consistently sub-freezing temperatures have resulted in the ground being frozen to a depth of several inches, amplifying concerns of road safety as freezing rain begins tonight and is expected to continue through early morning tomorrow.

“We have a higher confidence in the impact for icing because the ground is so cold right now,” Ryan said. “If it had been like it was in December, where we’d been in the 40s during the day, and maybe getting down to the 20s at night, and the ground wasn’t nearly frozen to the level it is now or wasn’t frozen at all, the freezing rain concerns would be a lot more minimal than what we’re expecting tonight.”

How long will hazardous freezing rain conditions last in Monroe County?

Ryan said the freezing rain conditions are expected to dissipate early Tuesday morning as temperatures rise, but he warned that even as temperatures rise above freezing, the temperatures on the ground may remain below 32 degrees for longer.

“Even as our temperatures rise above 32 degrees, we are probably going to maintain sub-freezing conditions at the ground level for a period of time beyond that, which will probably occur in Monroe County either late tonight or sometime early tomorrow morning,” Ryan said. “So until that does happen, the concern is going to be roadways becoming icy, and certainly creating a danger for travel.”

According to the NWS forecast, freezing rain is expected to become all rain after 8 a.m., and highs for the day are expected to reach the low 40s.

Will the freezing rain in Bloomington impact my commute?

Ryan encouraged those driving during the advisory to give themselves plenty of extra travel time, maintain increased distance between cars on the road and be prepared for slower speeds. He also encouraged those traveling on foot to look out for untreated sidewalks and roads that may become icy.

Ryan warned that while freezing rain conditions are expected to decrease in the early morning — prior to many people’s commute times — he encourages people to use caution while driving and be active in looking out for icy roads.

“More than likely, it’s going to warm above freezing, where freezing rain is not as much of an issue, prior to daybreak tomorrow, but it’s going to be close,” Ryan said.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Freezing rain in forecast for Bloomington, Indiana, area