Central Indiana has dealt with heavy rain over the past (24) hours, and it’s continuing this morning. In some areas, rainfall has been excessive. Note the latest Storm Total Rainfall map below. Areas of light green indicate where 1″ of rain has fallen (since June 8th), yellow indicates where 2″ of rain has accumulated, and the orange hues represent areas of 4″ to as much as 5″ in spots. – Again this is just rainfall from Friday morning through 7a Monday.
Moisture continues to stream across central and southern Indiana this morning, and some of this rain is falling at a moderate to heavy rate.
Widespread rain will eventually come to an end later this afternoon before scattered showers and thunderstorms redevelop this evening into tonight. Potential is also present for the possibility of another thunderstorm complex impacting parts of the region late tonight into early Tuesday- especially across the southwest part of the state. Scattered thunderstorm chances will remain Tuesday (more of the splash and dash variety as opposed to a widespread soaker).
Eventually, drier air will work into the state for midweek and rainfall coverage will diminish Wednesday and most of Thursday.
An increasingly moist air mass will return to close the week and with the increasing humidity, rain and storm chances will make a return Friday into the upcoming weekend.
An early look at next weekend shows general agreement with the GFS and European forecast models: drier air returning along with slightly cooler air. We’ll keep you updated!
Eventually these storms should pick up momentum and head off to the southeast later tonight.
An increasingly muggy air mass will take hold of the region as we close the work week, with dew points approaching 70° at times. The term “air you can wear” comes to mind. As impulses of energy interact with this tropical air mass, thunderstorms will blossom- particularly in the afternoon and evening hours.
Looking down the road, a “sticky” summer feel will remain intact through next week, but changes are brewing in the longer range. These changes would support a cooler regime developing just past mid-June (in the 10 to 15 day time frame). While the duration is up for debate, it’ll be nice for at least a few days of cooler air…
Upper level energy will push east this afternoon and combine with an unstable air mass, along with unseasonably hot and humid air (highs today will reach the lower 90s across the southern half of the state with dew points around 70°), resulting in explosive thunderstorm development this evening. Storms will rumble east during the nighttime hours before exiting off to the east and diminishing during the early morning hours.
We target the time frame of 6p to midnight for greatest storm coverage and the possibility of severe weather. While the greatest threat of severe is just south of the city, itself, I think all of central IN is in play for the possibility of strong to severe thunderstorms tonight. In addition to locally heavy rain, stronger storms could pose a damaging straight line wind threat along with large hail.