Indianapolis weather: Coldest start in years brings single digit chills, says Paul Poteet

It's the coldest morning in a couple of winter seasons. The Indianapolis low of 3 is the coldest temperature since a reading of one below zero on Feb. 10, 2011. Last winter's low point in Indy was 5 above, and the winter before - the one with less than 10 inches of total snow - the low never even went into single digits.

Unofficial morning low temperatures:

• 2 - Indianapolis, Kokomo, Muncie and Richmond.

• 0 - Terre Haute, Lafayette.

• -1 - Shelbyville.

• -4 - Bloomington.

Wind chill temperatures could go as low as -15 through Thursday morning, and the feels-like number never leaves single digits this afternoon. At least the sun will be around. Today is the seventh consecutive day of below normal temperatures. It won't be quite as cold tonight, and we'll be near freezing Friday, as our weekend snow maker starts its' march toward central Indiana.

Snow should start sometime after sunset Friday, accumulating through the overnight and Saturday morning into midday. I'm continuing with a 2- to 4-inch prediction in Indy, but I think 5 inches is possible in Boone, Hamilton and Madison counties. Farther north and northeast, including Lafayette and Kokomo, 3 to 6 inches may fall. This time, the south will actually see smaller snow amounts with 1 to 3 inches around Bloomington and Columbus. Some freezing rain and sleet may mix in to the south, although ice accumulations shouldn't be significant.

Flurries and/or snow showers could linger into Sunday, but the next big storm for central Indiana shouldn't arrive until Thursday, and this one could begin as rain, shifting to some snow as it ends Friday. Temperatures may briefly go above average next Thursday. I'm trying to keep your weather glass half full. Can I warm up that for you, hon?

Paul Poteet has reported weather in Central Indiana since the 1980s. Follow him on Twitter@PaulPoteet