Extreme cold warnings in effect across parts of Indiana, Illinois, and West Virginia
Arctic air driven by the polar vortex has prompted extreme cold warnings across parts of Indiana, Illinois, and West Virginia on December 14, 2025. Wind chills between −21°C (−6°F) and −30°C (−22°F) are producing dangerous conditions capable of causing frostbite on exposed skin within 30 minutes.
Image credit: NWS
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued multiple Extreme Cold Warnings across central Indiana, central and east-central Illinois, and portions of West Virginia due to dangerously low wind chills and the Arctic air.
In Indiana, the NWS Indianapolis office reported wind chills as low as −23°C (−9°F) early Sunday, with temperatures remaining well below freezing across the region.
The Extreme Cold Warning is in effect for much of central and western Indiana remains active until 11:00 EST on December 14, followed by a Cold Weather Advisory through 09:00 EST on December 15.
Areas affected include Indianapolis, Lafayette, Terre Haute, Anderson, and Kokomo. Wind chills between −21°C (−6°F) and −25°C (−13°F) are forecast through the warning period.
Wind chills dropped to −30°C (−22°F) in parts of McLean, Champaign, and Vermilion counties in central Illinois. The Extreme Cold Warning there remains in effect until 12:00 CST on December 14, transitioning to a Cold Weather Advisory until 06:00 CST on December 15. The low temperatures may result in frostbite or hypothermia, particularly for individuals without adequate shelter or clothing.
In the central Appalachians, NWS offices in Charleston and Blacksburg maintained Extreme Cold Warnings for high-elevation counties in West Virginia, including Pocahontas, Randolph, and Greenbrier.
The warning will remain in effect till 10:00 EST on Monday for the Greenbrier County, while it will expire at 11:00 EST on Sunday for the other counties.
Wind chills in these areas are forecast to reach −25°C (−13°F) to −20°C (−4°F) through Monday morning, with frostbite and hypothermia being possible in less than 30 minutes of exposure. NWS advised residents to keep pets indoors and to take precautions to prevent frozen water pipes.
The freezing cold is being driven by the polar vortex, which has been bringing waves of Arctic air to the U.S. this month. The same system also triggered lake-effect snow warnings in New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania through the weekend.
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I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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