Winter weather arrives in C. Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The first major snowfall of the year has arrived across Central Indiana.

Rain changed over to snow during the evening commute Thursday.

The snow could last until Friday afternoon.

ONLINE EXTRA | Road safety tips from Indiana State Police

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect through 10 a.m. Friday. A High Wind Warning is in effect through 7 a.m. Friday. High winds prompted a ban of large semitrailer on the Indiana Toll Road .

Forecast 8 Meteorologist Ken Brewer says Central Indiana could see around one to two inches of snow. Some parts of our area may get as much as three inches of snow. 

Wind chill values late Thursday could drop into the single digits as winds will gust up to 35 miles per hour. 

Friday morning winds could gust up to 55 mph, with blowing and drifting snow being a major concern.

OUTAGES

Thursday night, Indianapolis Power and Light Company reported more than 100 people without power just after 11:30 p.m. More than 10,000 Duke Energy customers were without power.

FLIGHT DELAYS

Representatives with the Indianapolis International Airport told 24-Hour News 8 that 16 flights have been delayed Thursday between the hours of 3 p.m. and midnight. Officials say most of those delays are due to the weather.

Additional flights from Indianapolis to Chicago were canceled. Check with WISHTV.com for Indianapolis flight information.

ROAD TROUBLES

Authorities in Columbus were forced to close one lane of U.S. 31 after a utility pole snapped and was dangling above the highway. Crews also responded to a number of downed trees around Bartholomew County, 24-Hour News 8's news partner The Republic reports.

Police in surrounding counties were responding to a number of weather related incidents throughout the evening. Indiana State Police in Bloomingon said that before 8 p.m. they had responded to five or six cars that slid off the road.

State Police in Putnamville said that five small crashes occurred on Interstate 70. All of these happened between the 30 and 40 mile markers on Interstate 70. Dispatchers in Putnam County reported 10 slide offs, one with minor injury.

SCHOOL CLOSINGS

Paramount School of Excellence is closed. Roncalli High School, North Vermillion Community School Corp., and Acadia Academy in Howard County are on a two hour delay. Check back with WISHTV.com for the latest information on school closings and delays .

Stay with Forecast 8 for the latest on the changing weather.