Storm cuts power to 8K northern Indiana homes, businesses

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (AP) – A winter storm that’s bringing heavy snow and high winds to northern Indiana has cut power to nearly 8,000 homes and businesses in the region.

Northern Indiana Public Service Co. says that as of noon CST Sunday about 7,900 of its customers across the northern portion of the state were experiencing power outages.

The Merrillville-based utility says crews are assessing the damage and urged residents to stay away from any fallen power lines.

A winter storm warning covers most of northern Indiana, where the National Weather Service predicts between 10 and 15 inches of snowfall by early Monday.

Lake County in the state’s far northwestern corner is under a blizzard warning, as is adjacent areas of Illinois and the Chicago area, due to strong winds and windblown snow.