Indianapolis drivers are advised to exercise extra caution Saturday as rain continues to pour into central Indiana, inundating roads and swelling local waterways.
Much of central Indiana, including the capital city, remains under a flood warning from the National Weather Service in Indianapolis through 1 p.m. Saturday. A flood watch will also remain in place until 8 a.m. Sunday.
“Given all the rain we’ve had recently, it won’t take much additional rain to create more flooding conditions, or to exacerbate those existing flooding conditions,” NWS meteorologist Matthew Eckhoff said.
Over the last 24 hours, Indianapolis has received about three and a half inches of rain, Eckhoff said.
The north side of Indianapolis got a bit less rain than the city’s south side, but drivers in the area should still exercise caution, especially in low-lying areas or near rivers.
Flooding is the most common reason for thunderstorm-related deaths, and about half of all fatalities occur in cars, according to the National Weather Service. It takes as little as 6 inches of floodwater to knock an adult off their feet, and cars can float away in about 12 inches of water. Trucks and SUVs can be swept away with about 2 feet of water.
If you approach a flooded intersection while driving, play it safe and turn around. The water could be much deeper than it appears, and it could be hiding potholes, live wires or even a caved-in section of street.
Live traffic in Indianapolis
The community-based navigation app Waze provides traffic updates and road condition information. Drivers can see what others are reporting before hitting the road.
Highway conditions in Indiana
Check highway conditions, including closures, crashes and live webcams using Indiana’s online Trafficwise map at 511in.org, or visit our gridlock guide page for live traffic cams and more.
INDOT’s CARS Program provides information about road conditions, closures and width and weight restrictions. The website has a color-coded map of Indiana’s highways and highlights hazardous road conditions and travel delays.
The interactive map also shows road work warnings, closures, roadway restrictions and other information helpful to drivers.
How to report flooded roads
Citizens Energy Group reviews complaints about sidewalk and road flooding. Call (317) 924-3311 to report standing water.
If you encounter a downed tree or broken traffic light, contact the Mayor’s Action Center at 317-327-4622 or online at RequestIndy.gov. When calling after hours, press “2” to be connected.
Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana road conditions: Drivers urged to be cautious on roadways
