The National Weather Service discussion expects a light accumulation of freezing rain along SR 26 from Lafayette to Muncie starting around sunset on Friday evening. The American model (GFS) suggests that the freezing rain will reach as far south as Indianapolis. The Canadian model (GDPS) suggests a wider and slightly heavier band of freezing rain that starts a bit later. The accumulations will make driving hazardous, but widespread power outages are not anticipated.

Danger of hypothermia

If you are planning to stay outside for an extended period on Wednesday during the rain, whether or not it is freezing rain, take precautions against hypothermia. Classic victims of hypothermia are not somebody trapped in snow and subzero cold; classic victims of hypothermia allows themselves to get wet while exposed to precipitation at temperatures above freezing. Hypothermia can take place if you are wet and the temperature is 70 F or below.

If you feel cold, get to a warm place. If you are shivering, that is the body’s attempt to raise its temperature, get inside: this is the first stage of hypothermia. If you feel cold, stay in the weather, and the coldness fades away or shivering stops, hypothermia has reached or passed the second of five stages and mental impairment begins.

Here is a link to the Mayo Clinic’s hypothermia page: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothermia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352682

Incidentally, alcoholic drinks are a very bad idea for hypothermia victims. The victim will feel warmer because alcohol tends to dilate the blood vessels nearest to the skin. Meanwhile the core body temperature may drop even faster.