Category: Forecast

Feb 22

Active Pattern Ramping Up; Monitoring Multiple Storm Chances…

Highlights:

  • Spring-like air continues
  • Severe t-storm potential Friday PM
  • Much colder weekend
  • Another round of strong-severe storms next week?

Buckle Up For A Wild Ride…Morning fog (some very dense, especially north of the city) will burn off and give way to increasing sunshine today, along with unseasonably warm temperatures.  In fact, we’ll be near-record territory (Indy’s record high today is 70° and we forecast to tie that record this afternoon).  We’ll remain near record territory over the next couple of days, but our attention will, unfortunately, have to shift from the record warmth to strong-severe thunderstorm potential.

Most of Thursday will be dry, but a few scattered showers will likely dot the central IN landscape by the evening hours.  Similar to Thursday, most of the day Friday will also be dry.  It’s not until we head into Friday evening and night that we’re concerned for thunderstorms tracking through the state.  A few of these storms will likely reach severe levels.  Large hail and damaging winds are of greatest concern with the severe thunderstorms that develop.  The cold front will sweep the state Friday night and a midnight high Saturday morning in the upper 40s will crash (most of the daytime will feature temperatures in the 30s with wind chills in the 20s) and wind-whipped snow flurries can be expected.

A weak weather system is still expected late Sunday and could feature a light rain and snow mix (not a big deal).  What will be a bigger deal is a much stronger storm system rolling through the Mid West early next week.  Unfortunately, another round of strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible Tuesday…

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

  • Snowfall: Trace
  • Rainfall: 1.00″ – 1.50″

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2017/02/22/active-pattern-ramping-up-monitoring-multiple-storm-chances/

Feb 21

Incredible February Warmth Continues Until This Weekend…

Highlights:

  • Unseasonably warm conditions continue
  • Strong-severe t-storm potential Friday PM
  • Much colder this weekend

Spring-Like Weather Continues…A weak weather system will create the chance of showers into this afternoon, but many more dry hours can be expected than wet.  In fact, some neighborhoods won’t even see a drop of rain today.  The bigger news?  A continuation of unseasonably warm, April-like, temperatures.  In fact, we’ll turn even warmer for the second half of the work week and get back to dry time Wednesday and most of Thursday.

A strong cold front will sweep through the state Friday night.  Ahead of this front, shower and thunderstorm coverage will increase Friday afternoon into the evening hours.  Some of these storms may become strong to severe and include damaging straight line winds and hail.

We’ll then turn much colder Friday night and that will set the stage for a more seasonable weekend.  Snow flurries may fly in the blustery northwest flow Saturday.  A fast-moving weather maker will then spread a mixture of rain and wet snow across the state Sunday evening into early Monday.  Confidence is low on timing of this late weekend system and fine tuning will be required moving forward.

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

  • Snowfall: Trace – Dusting
  • Rainfall: 0.25″ – 0.75″

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2017/02/21/incredible-february-warmth-continues-until-this-weekend/

Feb 20

Spring-Like Now, But Winter Returns This Weekend…

Highlights:

  • Dense morning fog
  • Tuesday showers
  • Severe potential Friday
  • Much colder this weekend

Two Seasons This Week…We’re starting the work week with dense fog across central Indiana.  This will eventually burn off to a variably cloudy sky by afternoon, along with continued unseasonably warm temperatures.

A weak weather system will press through the state Tuesday and this will help lead to a period of showers Tuesday morning into the early afternoon hours.  This won’t be a big event (most neighborhoods should accumulate between 0.10″-0.25″ of rain), but plan to pack the rain gear as you leave the house Tuesday morning.

A much stronger storm system will impact the region Thursday into Friday.  As strong low pressure passes by to our northwest it’ll help pull anomalously warm, moist air northward Friday.  Strong to severe thunderstorms may occur along the strong cold front that will pass late Friday.  While we still have time to “fine tune” details on timing, early thinking would place greatest emphasis on large hail and damaging wind potential.  Stay tuned.

Much colder air will hit with authority Friday night and set-up a wintry weekend.  The spring-like feel of this past weekend will be all but a distant memory and flurries may fly Saturday morning in the colder, blustery air.

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

  • Snowfall:  Trace
  • Rainfall: 0.50″ – 1.00″

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2017/02/20/spring-like-now-but-winter-returns-this-weekend/

Feb 18

Awesome Weekend Weather Continues; Changes Ahead Next Week…

Highlights:

  • Spring-like weather rolls along
  • Shower chances return
  • Strong t-storm potential
  • Different tune next weekend

Is This February?  Our stretch of unseasonably pleasant, spring-like, weather will continue for the second half of the weekend and as we progress into the early stages of the work week.  Find a way to get outside the next couple of days (that’s an order ;-)).

A weak weather system will scoot through here Tuesday and serve to increase our cloud cover, along with a few scattered showers.  Dry conditions return Wednesday, but by then all eyes will be on an approaching stronger storm system that will provide increased shower coverage by Thursday and strong to severe thunderstorm potential Friday.  Speaking of severe weather, we think this spring will offer up a busy severe weather season.  We’ll have additional updates on the severe potential as time gets closer, but just keep a mental note Friday could be a busy weather day.

We’ll abruptly transition back to winter Friday night and the air will grow cold enough a week from today to allow scattered snow showers to fly in a gusty northwesterly breeze next Saturday.

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

  • Snowfall: Trace – Dusting
  • Rainfall: 0.50″ – 1.00″

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2017/02/18/awesome-weekend-weather-continues-changes-ahead-next-week/

Feb 15

Extended Dry Period; Spring-Like Weekend Ahead…

Highlights:

  • Chilly today
  • Spring-like weekend
  • Extended dry period

Beautiful Weather…There’s no reason to waste many pixels on this forecast.  Despite a slight “speed bump” today (temperatures will top out a few degrees below normal), the balance of this 7-day forecast period is one that will feature unseasonably pleasant (and quiet) weather.  We’ll note periods of clouds today as weak cold air advection kicks in, along with a gusty northerly breeze this afternoon.

After Thursday morning, it’s off to the races as an extended period of sunshine will be with us as we wrap up the work week and head into the weekend.  Temperatures will reach 60 Friday, mid/ upper 60s this weekend, and near 70 Monday.

The next weather item of note will be increasing clouds late Tuesday, followed by showers Wednesday.

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

  • Snowfall: 0.00″
  • Rainfall: 0.00″

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2017/02/15/extended-dry-period-spring-like-weekend-ahead/

Feb 13

Uneventful Weather; Warming Up Late Week…

Highlights:

  • Dry weather this week
  • Briefly cooler mid week
  • Weekend warm-up

Sunglasses Required…We’re opening the work week with crystal clear blue skies and cold temperatures. Mostly sunny conditions will give way to increasing high level cloudiness this afternoon/ evening as a storm system passes by to our south.  That increase in cloudiness is about as “exciting” as it gets this week in the weather department.  Reinforcing chilly conditions will dive south into the region Tuesday night into Wednesday, but we’ll remain precipitation-free.

Like so many other cold blasts this winter, the chill won’t have staying power and we’ll get back to a moderating trend heading into the weekend.  Many places will likely come close to 70° by the second half of the weekend as dry conditions remain. Enjoy friends!

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

  • Snowfall: 0.00″
  • Rainfall: 0.00″

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2017/02/13/uneventful-weather-warming-up-late-week/

Feb 11

Pleasant Start; Nighttime Showers…

Highlights:

  • Sunshine gives way to showers
  • Colder mid-week
  • Warmth returns

Showers Arrive Tonight…The weekend is off to a pleasant start, but clouds will increase this afternoon and light showers will follow by evening, continuing into early Sunday morning.  Rainfall amounts won’t be impressive, with most around one-quarter inch.  It’ll be an unseasonably mild weekend, with highs today pushing close to 60° and early highs Sunday around 50° before cooler air spills in for the second half of the weekend.

The majority of the upcoming work week will be precipitation-free.  A dry cold front will pass Tuesday evening and this could result in a couple of snow flurries or light snow showers.  As of now, the better coverage of snow showers appears to be to our east for our friends in Ohio.  We’ll turn colder Wednesday and Thursday, but have no fear as moderating temperatures will quickly return as we roll into next weekend.  In fact, the period just beyond the current 7-day looks downright spring-like, including highs that may push close to 70° early in Week 2.

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

  • Snowfall: 0.00″
  • Rainfall: 0.25″ – 0.50″

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2017/02/11/pleasant-start-nighttime-showers/

Feb 09

Bitter Feel Today…

Screen Shot 2017-02-09 at 7.43.52 AMHighlights:

  • Frigid Thursday
  • Milder, but wet this weekend
  • Turning colder next week

Bundle Up…Temperatures are running much colder than this time 24 hours ago with most waking up to the teens.  Throw in a strong and gusty NW wind and the ‘chill factor has fallen to as low as zero for many neighborhoods this morning.  Thankfully, sunshine should be with us this afternoon.

Our wind flow will shift around to the southwest and usher in a milder brand of air by Friday afternoon.  Eventually, that flow will also be an increasingly moist one, as well, and showers will develop Saturday, continuing into Sunday.  We expect the cold front to slip through the state Sunday night and allow colder air to return.

Questions abound early-mid next week.  Whether or not we can get a piece of energy to dig in and create wintry “fun and games” is yet to be determined.  Modeling is going back and forth on that idea, versus, multiple, weaker waves capable of producing scattered snow showers in the colder air mass.  We’ll continue to monitor things.

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

  • Snowfall: Dusting – 1″
  • Rainfall: 0.25″ – 0.75″

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2017/02/09/bitter-feel-today/

Feb 08

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!

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2017/02/08/heavy-wet-snow-thump-this-afternoon/

Feb 07

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).

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2017/02/07/attention-turns-to-wednesday-snow/

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