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Dangerous ice storm expected across central US, how will central Indiana be affected?

Posted at 11:54 PM, Jan 12, 2017
and last updated 2017-01-14 13:08:16-05

INDIANAPOLIS --  A potentially dangerous ice storm will move across the Midwest and central United States between Friday and Sunday. 

Indiana is on the outer edge of the storm, which means that the potential for winter weather is there, but it won't necessarily make it with the full strength of the storm to our doorsteps.

As this storm moves through each state (roughly 12 of them, to be exact), a couple of degrees Fahrenheit could mean the difference between dangerous icy conditions and just plain rainy wet roads.

While this weekend's storm could cause icing on the roads, it's not expected to be like the ice storm we experienced in mid-December. The best chance is late Friday night and into early Saturday morning. 

The storm will make its way across the U.S. producing everything from rain to sleet to snow and ice in a three-day period.

In central Indiana we won’t begin seeing those systems move in until sometime Friday evening.

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The best chances for heavy ice buildup from this storm are in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. But parts of Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Texas could still see ice Friday night into Saturday.

It only takes a small amount of ice – a tenth of an inch or less – to cause slippery roads, which can lead to accidents and travel delays.

While the threat of power outages in central Indiana is low, it only takes about a quarter of an inch of ice building up on trees and power lines to cause widespread outages.

If you have to travel make sure you have a full tank of gas and a winter storm kit in your car. 

RELATED | 10 items to carry in your car this winter | What works best to melt the ice in frigid temperatures? | Need-to-know driving tips on icy roads

Watch the video above for tips on how to prepare for an ice storm. 

RELATED| 500 crashes across central Indiana from Friday freeze: 'Unlike anything we've seen' | By the numbers: Indy's freezing rain fiasco | Stranded motorists evacuated off of I-465 overpass via ladder | So how did all this traffic mess happen? | 2 killed in crashes as part of wintry mix mess that led to more than 500 accidents

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