Category: Forecast

Messy Afternoon Commute Ahead

Latest thinking around our wintry mess due in here this afternoon places a heavier emphasis on sleet and freezing rain for central Indiana, with accumulating snow still a possibility, especially north of Indianapolis.

Overnight model data trended warmer (especially aloft) and latest high resolution, short-term, data continues that trend this morning.  While an initial push of moisture has led to snow and sleet reports already this morning, it’s around 1 o’clock when we think the true slug of moisture reaches the city, itself.  While snow can’t completely be ruled out, I’m more concerned with sleet and freezing rain potential for Indianapolis.

Officially, we’re calling for 1″ of snow/ sleet with up to two tenths of freezing rain for the city, itself.  Further north, a band of 1-3″ of snow/ sleet can be expected with only light freezing rain.  From Benton County over to Wells County, we anticipate mostly a snow event with 3-6″ of snow expected.

All of that said, we leave you with this humble disclaimer; this is easily the most difficult forecast we’ve had to make this winter.  Several factors will come into play to ultimately determine the precise precipitation zones, including track and strength of the low, precipitation rates, amount of evaporative cooling, etc.  This is a low confidence forecast when it comes to precipitation types, but our best idea is below for your viewing pleasure.  Needless to say, regardless of what type of precipitation you see this afternoon, prepare for another nasty afternoon and evening commute.  Stay safe.

UPDATED021714

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2014/02/17/messy-afternoon-commute-ahead/

Sunday Afternoon Thoughts…

1.) A scan over the latest data continues to point towards an absolute mess of a Monday afternoon.  Our accumulation ideas remain relatively unchanged from this morning’s update, aside from “beefing” expected snow totals for Indy’s northern ‘burbs by 1″.  Most of this falls from noon to 6pm and will be followed by a dry, cold, and blustery Monday night.  After likely a white-nuckle evening commute Monday, the combination of sub-freezing temperatures and gusty northwest winds Monday night will likely lead to another rough commute for Tuesday morning.

** We caution that this will be another “now cast” situation when it comes to precipitation types and their respected precise zones tomorrow afternoon.  Stay tuned here or to your favorite local weather media for updates and potential changes.**

  • Indianapolis northern ‘burbs, including Zionsville: 2-4″ snow and sleet with less than 0.10 of freezing rain.
  • Indianapolis proper: 2″ snow and sleet with around 0.10 of freezing rain
  • Indianapolis southern ‘burbs, including Greenwood: 1″ snow and sleet with up to 0.25 freezing rain.

Snow:IceForecast021714

2.) We continue to monitor what will be a brief thaw and associated flood risk mid week.  Even without rain, water rise would occur and urban flooding from the combination of melting snow and blocked (from all of the snow) drainage zones.  When you add 0.50-1″ of rain atop the melting then problems could arise Wednesday into Thursday.  Additionally, we’ll need to prepare for the likelihood of dense fog Wednesday as milder air surges north over a deep snow pack.

3.) For anyone thinking spring is setting in during our mid week thaw will need to think again. Latest model data continues to suggest we reverse things quickly later this week and for the upcoming weekend.  In fact, some model data, including the European, suggests central Indiana is under the gun for a weekend winter storm.  We’ll continue to monitor closely…

021614ECSatWinterStorm022214

4.)  Additionally, prospects continue to grow for another extended period of well below normal cold and renewed wintry precipitation chances in the long term (into March).  Both the GFS and European models are in agreement on the mid to long range pattern with a trough settling back into the eastern half of the country.

02161412zGFSEC

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2014/02/16/sunday-afternoon-thoughts/

Cold Today; Messy Monday Ahead.

Sun.

Mon.

Tue.

Wed.

Thr.

Fri.

Sat.

 Status-weather-clouds-icon

 Status-weather-freezing-rain-icon

 Status-weather-clouds-icon

 images

 Status-weather-storm-night-icon

 Status-weather-clouds-icon

 images

16/ 25

15/ 33

20/ 39

24/ 42

35/ 57

28/ 45

28/ 50 

0.00”

1-3″ (and ice)

0.00”

Trace

0.50″-1.00″

0.00″

0.00”

Forecast Updated 02.16.14 @ 11:15a

Cold Sunday…Fresh off celebrating our snowiest winter on record (surpassed last night at IND at 51.6″ and the Record Event Report can be found here), we’ll enjoy a dry day, but blowing and drifting snow will remain an issue in the open country. A few breaks in the cloud cover can be expected this afternoon on what will otherwise be a rather cloudy day.  Highs will only climb into the lower to middle 20s (well below the average high of 40 and closer to the normal low of 24).  Yes, our cold, snowy winter just keeps on keepin’ on!

Snow And Ice Issues Monday…A storm system will move through the region Monday and deliver a mixture of precipitation types across central Indiana.  The way we see things unfolding as of this forecast update brings a wintry mix of sleet and snow into the city around noon with periods of moderate to even heavy wintry precipitation falling into the mid to late afternoon hours before we begin to see the shield of moisture push northeast.  This will be a “thump and go” type event.

As for precipitation type, this remains a challenge and will require much fine tuning later tonight and through the day tomorrow (another now cast scenario).  We’re thinking mostly snow is the dominant form of precipitation from the northern suburbs of Indianapolis and points north.  Here, 2-3″ of wet snow is possible, polished off with a light glaze of a freezing rain/sleet mixture before precipitation ends.  For the city, itself, we think around 1-2″ of snow is possible with a glaze of freezing rain of around a tenth of an inch. Farther south, to include the southern Indianapolis suburbs, an icy mixture of sleet and freezing rain will be the concern with glaze potential approaching one quarter inch.  Again, we caution this is our best idea at this point and we’ll post some fresh thoughts later this evening.

Needless to say, tomorrow stands to include treacherous driving conditions in and around central Indiana and the National Weather Service will likely issue Winter Weather/ Freezing Rain Advisories later this afternoon to account for the wintry conditions anticipated tomorrow afternoon.

Flooding Concerns On The Rise…With such a deep snowpack across central Indiana, combined with a frozen ground, flooding concerns will be on the rise as early as the middle to latter part of the week.  We think dry and chilly (albeit milder) conditions will be with us Tuesday, but low clouds, fog, and drizzle likely develop by Wednesday as milder air streams north over the snowpack locked in across the region.

By Thursday, our attention turns to the potential of heavy rain and a couple of thunderstorms as a cold front blows through the region.  Early ideas of Thursday rainfall numbers would suggest anywhere from .50-1″ of rain is laid down and when combined with the heavy snow pack and milder air, flooding concerns will certainly be present.  Needless to say, if you live in a flood prone area, please monitor the situation closely later this week.

Winter Blows Back In…As promised, the briefly milder shot of air would be just that- brief.  We continue to monitor data that suggests a colder, more wintry, pattern blows right back into the region to wrap up February.

twic

For weather updates and more “behind the scenes” data on the go, be sure to Follow Us on Twitter @indywx or become a Friend of IndyWx.com on Facebook!

images

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2014/02/16/cold-today-messy-monday-ahead/

Saturday Morning Notes…

* Your full, updated, 7-Day Forecast will be published later tonight. 1.) In the long range, credit the Canadian model for being spot on with yesterday’s snow storm.  It was…

You must be logged in to view this content. Click Here to become a member of IndyWX.com for full access.  Already a member of IndyWx.com All-Access?  Log-in here.

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2014/02/15/saturday-morning-notes/

Valentine’s Day Snow

Fri.

Sat.

Sun.

Mon.

Tue.

Wed.

Thr.

 Status-weather-snow-scattered-day-icon

 Status-weather-snow-scattered-day-icon

 Status-weather-clouds-icon

 Status-weather-showers-scattered-icon

 Status-weather-clouds-icon

 Status-weather-clouds-icon

 Status-weather-storm-night-icon

19/ 27

6/ 26

14/ 30

23/ 40

22/ 43

32/ 50

38/ 62 

2-5″

1″

0.00”

0.40″

0.00″

0.00″

0.50″

Forecast Updated 02.14.14 @ 11:00a

Accumulating Valentine’s Day Snow…The Canadian led the charge and other modeling has followed suit.  The region will deal with accumulating snow Valentines Day as low pressure moves southeast out of Missouri into the Tennessee Valley.  We think snow will fall at a good clip, periodically heavy, and begin around mid morning around the city.  In fact, a strip of 2-5″ of snow is likely to be laid down between Indianapolis and Louisville later today.  Latest radar trends from upstream and banding features suggest snowfall amounts may reach 6″ along the I-70 corridor. Needless to say, if you have travel plans this afternoon plan for snow covered roads and slick travel.

A fresh shot of arctic air will drill south into the region tonight and result in Saturday “wake up” temperatures in the single digits with a biting northwest wind.

Another Fast Moving Clipper…After a mostly dry Saturday, we forecast light snow to build back into the region Saturday night into early Sunday.  This will only be a light snow event and most amounts will be in the dusting to 1″ category.  The sun should quickly return Sunday afternoon, though it’ll remain colder than normal.

Foggy Start To The Week…As a southerly air flow transports milder air north and over the snow pack across central Indiana fog will develop.  It’s possible some freezing drizzle is dealt with Monday morning before temperatures rise above freezing.  Prepare for a downright gloomy start to the work week.  A cold front will push through the region Monday evening and lead to a period of showers, potentially transitioning to light snow or a light wintry mix Monday night as cold air sweeps back in.

A Spring Tease…A spring tease will have many Hoosiers wanting to break out the shorts by the mid week period.  In fact, highs will zoom into the 60s Thursday, courtesy of a strong and gusty southwest breeze.  The downside?  A line of showers and gusty thunderstorms later in the day.  While we still have a week to monitor this situation, the possibility is there for a few storms to reach severe levels across the Ohio Valley region.  Stay tuned as we monitor this developing weather situation.

Looking longer term, we anticipate the briefly milder spring “tease” to be just that.  Signals are increasingly favorable for a prolonged period of cold, wintry conditions building back into the region as we put a wrap on February and head into March.

imagesFor weather updates and more “behind the scenes” data on the go, be sure to Follow Us on Twitter @indywx or become a Friend of IndyWx.com on Facebook!

twic

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2014/02/13/valentines-day-snow/

Accumulating Valentine’s Day Snow

Wed.

Thr.

Fri.

Sat.

Sun.

Mon.

Tue.

 Status-weather-clear-icon

 Status-weather-clear-icon

 Status-weather-snow-scattered-day-icon

 Status-weather-snow-scattered-day-icon

 Status-weather-clouds-icon

 Status-weather-showers-scattered-icon

 Status-weather-showers-scattered-icon

0/ 27

9/ 36

21/ 28

8/ 27

17/ 32

24/ 42

28/ 46 

0.00”

0.00″

1-3″

1-2″

0.00″

0.50″

0.20″

Forecast Updated 02.12.14 @ 7:50a

Midweek Moderation…While still cold (and still below normal), temperatures will begin to moderate from the frigid readings of the past few days.  Additionally, we’ll continue to enjoy sunny skies both today and Thursday, though we’ll add a gusty southwest breeze into the mix Thursday.

Accumulating Late Week Snow…We’re eyeing two fast moving clipper systems that will deliver accumulating snow for late week.  The first snow event moves in Friday followed by a second snow maker Saturday.  Both have the potential to produce a couple inches of snow across the region and we’ll be able to fine tune these amounts over the next day, or so.

Rainy And Milder…A push of milder air will move in early next week.  Unfortunately, the milder air will come at a cost.  With the heavy snow pack on the ground combined with the warmer air moving in from the southwest we’ll be looking at a gloomy period, including a couple waves of rain.

A push of colder air will swoosh back in here Tuesday night and could lead to a wintry mix before precipitation end.  Looking longer term, we’re still expecting a “taste of spring” late next week!

twic

For weather updates and more “behind the scenes” data on the go, be sure to Follow Us on Twitter @indywx or become a Friend of IndyWx.com on Facebook!

images

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2014/02/12/accumulating-valentines-day-snow/

Tracking Late Week Snow…

Tue. Wed. Thr. Fri. Sat. Sun. Mon.             -12/ 1 0/ 27 9/ 36 22/ 30 12/ 28 14/ 29 25/ 39  0.00” 0.00″ 0.00”…

You must be logged in to view this content. Click Here to become a member of IndyWX.com for full access.  Already a member of IndyWx.com All-Access?  Log-in here.

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2014/02/11/tracking-late-week-snow/

ANOTHER Bitterly Cold Air Mass

Mon. Tue. Wed. Thr. Fri. Sat. Sun.               -1/ 12 -12/ 15 0/ 27 10/ 37 19/ 24 3/ 25 20/ 34  0.00” 0.00″…

You must be logged in to view this content. Click Here to become a member of IndyWX.com for full access.  Already a member of IndyWx.com All-Access?  Log-in here.

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2014/02/09/another-bitterly-cold-air-mass/

A Snowy Weekend On Tap

Sat. Sun. Mon. Tue. Wed. Thr. Fri.               5/ 24 16/ 28 -1/ 16 – 9/ 12 – 3/ 26 8/ 34 23/ 33 …

You must be logged in to view this content. Click Here to become a member of IndyWX.com for full access.  Already a member of IndyWx.com All-Access?  Log-in here.

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2014/02/08/a-snowy-weekend-on-tap/

Bitterly Cold And Snowy Pattern Rolls Along…

Fri.

Sat.

Sun.

Mon.

Tue.

Wed.

Thr.

 Status-weather-clear-icon

 Status-weather-snow-scattered-day-icon

 Status-weather-snow-scattered-day-icon

 Status-weather-clear-icon

 Status-weather-clear-icon

 Status-weather-snow-scattered-day-icon

 Status-weather-snow-scattered-day-icon

-5/ 14

9/ 24

15/ 24

2/ 15

– 5/ 16

9/ 26

15/ 28 

0.00”

1”-2”

1”

0.00”

0.00”

1”

1”

Forecast Updated: 02.07.14 @ 8:07a

Frigid Close To The Work Week…Arctic high pressure will be centered over the Ohio Valley as we close out the work week.  While this will lead to a mostly sunny sky, downright frigid conditions can be expected.  The day will dawn with temperatures solidly below zero and include wind chill values as cold as 30 degrees below- a painfully cold start to the day, needless to say.

Watching A Weekend Snow Maker…We continue to keep a close eye on the weekend as another round of accumulating snow waits on deck.  Questions remain as to just how much snow accumulates and while model data continues to suggest we’re only looking at a light, 1-3″, weekend snow event at the moment, the chance is still there that modeling begins to trend a little more “robust” with upper level energy as it crosses the Ohio Valley.  High snow ratios will be at play here, meaning we’ll squeeze out more than the usual 1″ of snow for every 10th of an inch of liquid.  We bracket Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning as the best chance of accumulating snow, but note this timing could change as we move through the next 24 hours.  Stay tuned.

Weekend Snow Bookended By A Bitter Feel…A fresh blast of bitterly cold air will pour into the Ohio Valley and Mid West region to kick off the new work week.  Temperatures will average more than 20 degrees colder than seasonal levels to begin the new work week and feature at least one, if not two, night(s) below zero.  The brutally cold, snowy winter of 2013-2014 just keeps on keeping on…

Watching The Southern Stream…Model data is really struggling in the longer term and it has to do with how each respected model set handles energy in the southern and northern branch of the jet stream.  We’re taking a “middle of the line” approach for now, including chances of snow the middle of next week.

images

For weather updates and more “behind the scenes” data on the go, be sure to Follow Us on Twitter @indywx or become a Friend of IndyWx.com on Facebook!

twic

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2014/02/06/bitterly-cold-and-snowy-pattern-rolls-along/

IndyWx.com