Honestly, January in Indianapolis is a bit of a mood. One day you're scraping frost off a windshield in the dark, and the next you're wondering if that 38-degree "heatwave" means it's finally light jacket weather. Spoilers: it isn’t.
If you're looking at the Indy 14 day forecast, you're basically staring down the barrel of the coldest stretch of the year. We are officially in the thick of it. The data doesn't lie, and right now, the data is shivering.
The Reality of the Next Two Weeks
Let’s get the immediate numbers out of the way because they’re pretty intense. Today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, we’re looking at a high of 26°F. Sounds manageable until you realize the wind is coming out of the west at 12 mph, making it feel more like 12°F.
It’s sunny, which is a nice lie the sky tells us in the winter.
By Monday, January 19, things take a real dive. We’re talking a high of only 14°F and a low that hits 7°F. That’s "don't leave your pipes vulnerable" cold. Most people assume the worst is over by mid-January, but historically, the lowest average high for Indianapolis actually hits right around January 21. We are scheduled to hit 38°F that day, which is technically "mild" for us, but it comes with a 20% chance of snow showers at night. Typical.
Snow, Slush, and the "Will They Salf?" Question
Living here means you develop a sixth sense for "snow showers" versus a "snow event." The forecast through the end of the month is peppered with 10% to 30% chances of snow.
- Sunday, Jan 18: 24°F High, 12°F Low. Cloudy.
- Tuesday, Jan 20: Mostly cloudy, swinging from a 29°F high down to a brutal 6°F low.
- Sunday, Jan 25: This is the one to watch. 17°F High, 6°F Low, with a 30% chance of snow showers.
What most people get wrong about Indy winters is thinking it's all about the accumulation. It’s not. It’s about the refreeze. When we have a day like Wednesday the 21st where it hits 38°F and then drops to 27°F, whatever melted turns into a sheet of glass by morning.
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The Deep Freeze Toward February
If you think the start of the week is rough, Tuesday, January 27 is looking like a character builder. We’re forecasting a high of just 10°F. The low? A staggering -5°F.
Yes, negative.
That’s the kind of cold that makes your nose hairs freeze the second you step out of the door. It’s worth noting that the record low for Indianapolis was -27°F back in 1994, so while -5°F is miserable, it’s not quite "history-making" miserable. It’s just "standard Indiana January" miserable.
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Why Does Indy Get This Cold?
It’s basically geography. We don't have mountains to block the arctic air sliding down from Canada, and we don't have a large body of water (sorry, Eagle Creek doesn't count) to regulate the temperature. We are a prime target for "Cold Air Outbreaks."
Survival Steps for the Next 14 Days
Since we’re stuck with this forecast, you might as well prep for it.
First, check your tire pressure. Cold air makes the "low pressure" light pop up, and nobody wants to be at a gas station air pump when it's 10 degrees outside. Second, if you’re heading out to ArtsPark or Newfields for a winter walk, layer like your life depends on it.
Moving forward, keep a close eye on the window between January 24 and 26. The humidity is expected to jump to 80% on the 26th, which, combined with those 16°F temperatures, makes the air feel heavy and much colder than the thermometer suggests.
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Stock up on the essentials now—salt for the driveway and maybe some decent coffee—because by the time that -5°F night hits on the 27th, you aren't going to want to be anywhere near I-465.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Insulate outdoor spigots before Monday’s 7°F low.
- Verify your car battery’s health; older batteries often fail when temperatures drop below 15°F.
- Plan indoor activities for the 27th, as the sub-zero lows will make outdoor exposure dangerous for more than a few minutes.