High Pressure Supports A Quiet Week; Colder Then Warming Again…

Quick post from the road on this Sunday morning before a more extensive update tonight. 

High pressure will build into the Ohio Valley and support a quiet week, overall. 


A “pop” of cold air will flow into the state on gusty northerly winds Tuesday night and set-up a cold midweek stretch. 


Highs will fall into the 30s Wednesday and Thursday with lows in the upper teens to lower 20s. However, like so many other cold shots over the past 6 weeks, it’s of the “in and out” variety. By late week, southwest winds are developing and helping temperatures moderate going into the weekend. 


We should remain dry next weekend before a more significant storm system arrives during early portions of Week 2. With dry conditions, a strengthening southwest flow and strong upper ridge, highs next weekend will approach 65°-70°.  

With two weekends in a row of spring-like weather in February we sure have to believe we’ll have to pay for the nice conditions late month into March before true sustained spring conditions can take hold…

Friday Morning Notebook: Warmer Times This Weekend…

Happy Friday, friends.  We’re still cold this morning, but a look at the change in temperatures compared to 24 hours ago shows the milder trend that will be with us through the upcoming weekend.  Highs today will reach the upper 40s and 55-60 Saturday.

Winds will turn strong and gusty out of the southwest this afternoon, noted by the tightly packed isobars (lines of equal pressure) along with considerable mid and high level clouds.

Clouds will lower and thicken Saturday and we may also have to deal with periods of fog, as well.  Showers and drizzle will lift into town as the day progresses, especially by afternoon and evening.

We don’t expect heavy rain this weekend.  In fact, model data continues to really back off on expected totals.  The general consensus is between 0.15″ and 0.25″ across central Indiana.

After a mild Saturday, cooler (but not cold) air will ooze into the Ohio Valley Sunday.

Resurgent cold air will blow into town during the middle and latter portions of the upcoming work week.  Highs will return to the 30s with overnight lows in the lower 20s.  We’ll likely add scattered snow showers into the mix as well.

Heavy, Wet Snow “Thump” This Afternoon…

The set-up:

A cold front is stalled across TN and lower Ohio Valleys this morning.  Meanwhile, upper level energy is moving out of the north-central Plains.  This upper level energy will continue to slide southeast and “feed” a developing surface low along the stalled front by evening.  Strong frontogenesis is forecast and this will aid in development of localized heavy snow bands and associated intense snowfall rates by afternoon, continuing into the evening.  (If you’re interested in learning more about frontogenesis and it’s impact on winter weather, please read this fantastic paper).  Here’s our updated snowfall forecast.  Please note snow amounts won’t necessarily follow the clean lines below, but this is our best idea as of now.

SnowEvent2.8.17FinalTiming:

We expect initial light to moderate snow to impact northern areas this morning, but it’s not until this afternoon when the “real deal” begins.  The onset of heavy snow will set-up just north of the city and the “bulls eye” with this event from a heavy snow perspective may very well paint itself across Indy’s northern suburbs, including several hours of heavy, wet snow from 12p-5p.  Moderate to heavy snow will then shift south to encompass the city, itself, mid to late afternoon, including the rush hour.  We highly recommend getting home early today if at all possible as the heaviest snowfall rates for the city, itself, will likely center on the evening rush.  Things will likely be very, very messy for travel as heavy wet snow falls.  In periods of heaviest snow, visibility near zero can be expected, especially just north of the city.

Forecast radar 1p, courtesy of Weatherbell.com.
Forecast radar 1p, courtesy of Weatherbell.com.
Forecast radar 4p, courtesy of Weatherbell.com.
Forecast radar 4p, courtesy of Weatherbell.com.
Forecast radar 6p, courtesy of Weatherbell.com.
Forecast radar 6p, courtesy of Weatherbell.com.

Snowfall should begin to diminish and pull east between 7p-8p for most of central Indiana.  Cold air will follow as lows tonight dip into the middle teens for most with a significant snowpack down.  Highs Thursday will only top out around 20.

As always, be sure to follow us on social media (Twitter: @indywx, Facebook: IndyWx.com, Instagram: IndyWxCom) for more updates on the go!  Be safe and happy snow to all!

Attention Turns To Wednesday Snow…

After a day of spring-like warmth and thunder, Old Man Winter will stage a comeback Wednesday.  Let’s get right to our snowfall forecast:

SnowEvent28171stCallTiming:

Snow will overspread north-central parts of the state Wednesday morning.  Most of this “initial round” of snow will remain north of the city, itself.

hires_ref_indy_21It’s not until we push into Wednesday afternoon and evening that more widespread snow will move through central Indiana, including Indianapolis.

hires_ref_indy_29

hires_ref_indy_31Periods of moderate to locally heavy snow can be expected through central and north-central parts of the state Wednesday evening, especially between the hours of 3p-7p.  This will be a wet snow and though the snowfall intensity should be impressive at times, it’ll have a hard time accumulating from what it otherwise could be if the ground was cold.  With that said, we do anticipate snowfall rates to overcome initially marginally cold air and “warm” surface temperatures.  Our forecast calls for a dusting to 1″ for the city, itself, increasing to 1″-3″ north of the city- encompassing most of north-central Indiana.  Roadways will likely become slushy with wet snow accumulation Wednesday evening.

Brief Shot Of Arctic Air:

Temperatures will fall into the middle-upper 10s for most of central Indiana by Thursday morning with highs Thursday only topping out in the lower to middle 20s.  The arctic air won’t stick around as we zoom back into the lower 40s Friday after a very cold start (upper 10s).