Right now, if you step outside in Indianapolis, the air basically bites back. It’s that mid-January reality where "bracing" is an understatement. Honestly, we are sitting right in the thick of the coldest stretch of the year. Historically, the week of January 12 through the 18th is the absolute basement for temperatures in Circle City, with average highs struggling to hit 35 degrees.
You’ve probably seen the local forecast on WTHR or checked your phone and felt a little bit of dread. I get it. The current 10-day outlook is a wild ride of single digits, random snow showers, and that one weird day where it might actually rain.
The Indianapolis in 10 Day Weather Reality Check
People think Indy winters are just one long, grey blur. That’s not quite right. It’s more like a series of erratic jumps. For the next week and a half, we are looking at a classic "Arctic reload."
Basically, cold air rushes down from Canada, sits over Lucas Oil Stadium for a few days, and then retreats just long enough for us to think spring is coming before it happens all over again.
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- The Immediate Chill: Sunday, January 18, is starting us off with light snow and a high of only 23°F. At night? It’s dropping to 12°F.
- The "Warm" Spike: By Wednesday, January 21, we might actually see 38°F. Don't get too excited, though—that "warmth" comes with a messy mix of rain and snow.
- The Deep Freeze: The real test of your furnace comes toward next weekend. By Sunday, January 25, we are looking at highs of 12°F and lows that could dip to 5°F or even lower.
If you’re planning to be out in Fountain Square or walking the Monon Trail, you’re going to need more than just a light puffer. The wind speeds are trending between 10 and 16 mph, which, at these temperatures, makes the "feels like" factor pretty brutal.
Why the "10 Day" Part Matters
A lot of folks look at a 10-day forecast and take it as gospel. In Indiana, that’s a mistake. Meteorologists like Matt Standridge have pointed out that while we use 30-year averages to predict these patterns, the secondary "severe" weather—like snow squalls—can pop up with only a few hours' notice.
The data from the Indianapolis International Airport shows we’ve already had a mix of freezing drizzle and mist this month. That makes the roads "kinda" treacherous, especially on those overpasses on I-465.
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Surprising Ways to Survive the Indy Cold
If you’re stuck here during this Indianapolis in 10 day weather stretch, you don't have to just hibernate. Indianapolis is actually built for this. We have one of the most extensive skywalk systems in the country downtown. You can basically traverse several city blocks, get dinner, and see a movie without ever letting the 11-degree air touch your face.
- Indoor Sanctuaries: The Garfield Park Conservatory is a literal tropical escape. When it's 15 degrees outside, standing among palm trees at 80 degrees feels like a legal loophole.
- The "Ice Tree": You have to go see Veal’s Ice Tree. It’s this massive, accidental art sculpture made from a garden hose and a lot of patience. It usually starts forming in January and is a total Indy staple.
- WinterFaire: If you have kids, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis (the biggest in the world, by the way) has indoor "snowy" play spaces that don't require actual frostbite.
Honestly, the best way to handle an Indy forecast is to dress in layers that make you look like a marshmallow. It's the local uniform.
Managing the Gray Days
The humidity is hovering around 66%, and the UV index is basically non-existent (mostly 0 or 1). This means the "Greybe" (the nickname for our perpetual grey sky) is in full effect. It's a good time to hit up a local coffee shop in Broad Ripple or grab a heavy meal at a spot like Bluebeard.
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Heavy food helps. Science probably says something about calories and body heat, but mostly it just makes the dark at 5:30 PM easier to swallow.
What to Do Next
If you are looking at the 10-day forecast and trying to plan your life, here is the move.
First, check your tire pressure today. Cold air makes the "low pressure" light come on, and nobody wants to be at a gas station air pump when it’s 8 degrees. Second, if you're planning to travel through KIND, keep an eye on that Wednesday window (Jan 21). The rain-snow mix is usually the biggest culprit for de-icing delays.
Finally, grab a heavy coat and embrace the "Ice Tree" or a trip to the Eiteljorg Museum. Winter in Indy is halfway over, according to the averages. We just have to survive the back half.