Michiana acclimates to 'normal' weather

 

ELKHART COUNTY, Ind.-- Crashes and winter weather go hand-in-hand, but Wednesday, most of the snow melted right when it hit the pavement, turning into a wet, slushy mess.

So far in 2023, there really hasn't been any snow, at least not more than a little over an inch this January.

That is, of course, until Wednesday.

While the January snow may have seemed slightly off-putting, local first responders said, this is nothing we haven't seen before.

"This is a normal winter day in northern Indiana," said Kristi Sommer, assistant chief at the Elkhart Fire Department.  

What she calls "normal" Indiana winter weather is something we haven’t seen for nearly all of January.

"I'm waiting on the proverbial shoe to drop in February to see the usual Northern Indiana weather," said Dan Sink, Goshen Fire Department chief.

But now, Hoosiers are once again faced with wet, heavy snow.

"Honestly, 5 inches is not a big deal in Northern Indiana," Sink said.

Fortunately, the expected car wrecks that typically accompany snowfall were capped at a minimum. Twenty accidents happened in South Bend Wednesday, which is more than double Warsaw's total of nine, and nearly three times as many as Goshen, which reported three.

But the bite in the air is a reminder for all of Michiana to be safe.

"Just give yourself enough time so you don’t have to hurry to get somewhere, and be able to take your time," Sink said.  

"Just slow down on the streets and make sure you have plenty of time to stop," Sommer said.