Category: Heavy Rain

Apr 30

More Heavy Rain And Storms Ahead; Cooler Week On Deck…

Highlights:

  • Widespread rain and strong storms today
  • Falling temperatures, windy, and wet Monday
  • Midweek storm brewing

Flooding Concerns Remain High…Another slug of moisture will lift north through central Indiana this afternoon into the nighttime hours.  Locally heavy rain will result in big flooding concerns as saturated soils are in place and many creeks and streams are already out of their banks.  Throw in an additional 1″-2″ with locally heavier totals and you have the makings of a dangerous flood situation into early week.  If that wasn’t enough to be concerned about, we’ll also have to watch how things evolve closely this afternoon for the potential of severe thunderstorms.  Damaging straight line winds are of greatest concern.

We’ll transition to a much cooler regime to open the new work week with gusty winds and showers continuing.  Temperatures will fall through the 50s during the day.  Jackets will be required!

Tuesday will provide a brief break from the wet weather and we should also introduce some sunshine for a while.  Unfortunately, we won’t have much time to dry out as a wet, windy, and chilly storm is brewing Wednesday evening into Thursday.  Widespread rain (some heavy) will combine with a raw easterly wind and temperatures in the 50s to lead to a rather miserable Thursday.

While shower chances remain early Friday, the theme heading into next weekend is a drier one and we should finally enjoy very pleasant weather by Saturday.

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

  • Snowfall: 0.00″
  • Rainfall: 1.50″ – 3.00″

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/more-heavy-rain-and-storms-ahead-cooler-week-on-deck/

Apr 29

Gearing Up For The “2nd Half…”

Central Indiana has enjoyed a well deserved break in the rain and thunderstorms this afternoon, but, unfortunately, stormy times will return tonight.  With an increasingly moist air mass in place (warm front is currently draped across central IN and slowly lifting north), renewed heavy rain is expected tonight into Sunday.  Dew points will approach 70° and precipitable water values (PWATs) will periodically reach 2″ between this evening and Sunday night.  With that kind of moisture content in the atmosphere, locally heavy, flash flood-producing, rains are a “lock.”  Should you live near a creek, stream, or river, please keep abreast of water levels into early next week and have a plan in place to move to higher ground.

The Storm Prediction Center paints a “Slight Risk” of severe weather across central and southern Indiana tonight.

We think an eastward-advancing line of thunderstorms will blow into central Indiana later this evening (between 9p and midnight).  Some of these may reach strong to severe levels with damaging straight line winds of greatest concern.  Additionally, torrential downpours will occur within this line of storms.

Overall coverage of rain and thunderstorms should diminish Sunday morning before ramping up and increasing in overall coverage and intensity (yet again) Sunday evening and night.  In fact, we may be looking at another severe weather episode Sunday night- again with straight line damaging winds of greatest concern.  By the time all is said and done we expect an additional 1″-2″ of rain across central Indiana with locally heavier 3″+ amounts where storms train over the same area.  Obviously, with saturated soils in place across central Indiana, this amount of rain will create flood concerns into Monday morning.  By the time we get to Monday, the big weather story will be strong and gusty NW winds, much cooler air (falling temperatures through the 50s) and nuisance-level showers.

Another heavy rain maker looms Thursday and we’ll cover that in our updated 7-day later tonight or Sunday.

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/gearing-up-for-the-2nd-half/

Apr 28

Wet And Stormy Times Through The Weekend; MUCH Cooler Next Week…

While it won’t rain the entire weekend, central Indiana should be prepared for multiple rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms over the next few days.  For those with outdoor plans this weekend, unfortunately what we’re seeing this evening is only the beginning of stormy times ahead.  There will be periods of dry weather in between the waves of storms, but the big story will be the hefty rain totals come Monday morning and embedded severe storms to boot.

Moisture content continues to increase across central Indiana this evening.

Precipitable water values continue to increase this evening and will aid in locally heavy rainfall tonight and through the weekend.

Forecast radar shows the waves of moisture that will impact the region throughout the night.  We project most widespread heavy rain arrives on the scene Saturday morning.

Forecast radar 11p

Forecast radar 4a

Forecast radar 10a

While scattered strong to severe storms will remain in our forecast Saturday afternoon through Sunday, we think the most widespread rains will diminish as we progress through the afternoon hours Saturday.  That said, with such high moisture content, any storms that develop will be plenty capable of producing locally heavy rainfall in a short timeframe.  It should also be mentioned that as the warm front lifts north, central Indiana will get into an increasingly warm and moist air mass Saturday afternoon and Sunday.  In fact, highs Sunday may approach the lower to middle 80s.  Add in a dew point that will approach 70°, a true muggy, summer-like feel will result.

Overall coverage of thunderstorms is expected to, once again, increase Sunday evening into the overnight period.  Additional heavy rain is expected and with saturated soils in place, flash flooding may result.  If you live near a creek or stream, please pay attention to the water levels into early next week.

The Storm Prediction Center outlines the region for the potential of severe weather tonight through Sunday (don’t be surprised if the “Slight Risk” is pulled further north on Sunday in future updates from the SPC).

Once all is said and done, we anticipate widespread 2″-3″ rainfall totals through central Indiana, but also note there will be localized heavier amounts.  Once to Monday we’ll look at a much cooler, windy, and “showery” regime.  Look for falling temperatures through  the day Monday and this will set the stage for the week ahead: MUCH cooler, overall….  More on that later this weekend!

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/wet-and-stormy-times-through-the-weekend-much-cooler-next-week/

Apr 27

Reviewing The Latest JMA Weeklies…

The new JMA Weeklies paint a wet and active picture for Week 1, but begin to suggest we get into a milder, drier pattern as we push into the middle and latter portions of May…

Week 1:

The “mean” upper air pattern places coastal ridges with a cool trough settling into the central.  The end result will be a wet and active regime, locally, this weekend into next week.  Though we’ll see a “spike” in temperatures Sunday, the overall theme is a chilly one as we open the month of May.  In fact, temperatures will trend significantly cooler than average as we push into next week.

Week 2:

While it still looks chilly (compared to average), the JMA Weeklies suggest a “calmer” weather pattern moving in.  Wet anomalies are noted through the Rockies and Central, but a drier trend across the east, including the Ohio Valley.

Weeks 3-4:

Wet times remain across the Central and spread into more of the southern tier, as well.  Slightly cooler than normal temperatures are also forecast across the Southeast.  Budding warmth seems to develop over the West.

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/reviewing-the-latest-jma-weeklies/

Apr 27

Busy Weather Pattern…

Highlights:

  • AM showers then cooler and windy
  • Stormy weekend ahead
  • Cooler next week

Busy Times In The Weather Office…A cold front will sweep through the state this morning with lingering showers and an abrupt wind shift.  Gusty westerly winds and cooler air (we’ve already seen our high for the day) will be with us this afternoon, along with a variably cloudy sky.

Unfortunately, we don’t have many changes to the ongoing idea of hefty weekend rains.  A warm front will begin to slowly lift north Friday into Saturday and this will be the focal point for heavy rain and thunderstorms.  Overall coverage and intensity of rain and thunderstorms will increase as we rumble through the second half of Friday.  A couple of storms could be strong to severe- especially across southern Indiana Friday afternoon and night.

The aforementioned warm front will lift north and be located across the southern Great Lakes region Sunday.  This will put our neck of the woods squarely into the warm and humid air mass Sunday.  Though storm coverage will likely be more scattered in nature when compared to Saturday, heavy thunderstorms will develop, especially during the afternoon and evening hours.  With a deep-rooted tropical connection along with saturated soils in place from early weekend rains, flood and flash flood potential will be high as we go into early portions of next week.

As we open up the work week, we’ll shift gears from a moisture-rich southerly flow to one that’s out of the northwest and much cooler.  Showers will continue through Monday.  Our next storm system will then set it’s eyes on the region by the middle of next week.

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

  • Snowfall: 0.00″
  • Rainfall: 2.50″ – 3.50″

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/busy-weather-pattern/