Wednesday Evening Rambles…Cold Reinforcements Tonight; Weekend Moderation…

I.  A look at the current snowpack shows the northwest flow nicely, and another storm is just missing central Indiana to the north and northeast this evening (not included in this morning’s snowpack update).  The southern Appalachians have also been capitalizing in this northwest flow pattern, not to mention the southern stream event that dumped hefty snows on the Deep South.

II.  While the sticking snows will miss us this go around, scattered snow showers will impact central IN overnight into early Thursday morning.  There’s also still the potential of a skinny lake effect snow band to impact a narrow portion of western and north-central IN early Thursday.

III.  Reinforcing cold air will plunge south Thursday.  Highs will remain below freezing along with wind chill values in the 10s most of the day.

IV: A milder southwesterly air flow will result in slightly “warmer” temperatures this weekend (mid 40s for highs Saturday) before showers arrive to close the weekend.  Despite the slight relaxation of the cold, this will come with a gusty breeze over the weekend.

Weekend Moderation…

Highlights:

  • Northern IN snow
  • Weekend moderation
  • Showers early next week

Majority Of Snow To Our North, Northeast…A fast moving northwest flow will continue to zip upper air disturbances across the Plains into the Great Lakes and northeast.  As has been the case for the past week, central IN will remain too far south to benefit in the snow department from these systems.  A light shower is possible this afternoon with gusty winds followed by a couple of light snow showers this evening as the cold returns.  If your travels take you to north-central IN or into Ohio, you’ll be more likely to encounter slick roads.

A skinny lake effect snow band may set up shop overnight into early Thursday.  Unlike the past event, this would favor west-central parts of the state.

We’ll wrap up the work week on a mostly dry note and that theme will continue as we open the weekend.  A milder southwest push of air will send temperatures to slightly above average levels this weekend and we’ll introduce showers into our forecast early next week.

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

  • Snowfall: Dusting
  • Rainfall: 0.25″ – 0.40″

Another Cold Week; Snow Showers Develop Overnight…

Highlights:

  • Snow showers develop overnight
  • Another arctic shot
  • Milder for the weekend

Snow Showers Develop Overnight…Another fast moving upper air disturbance is on the move southeast this morning and will result in a mostly cloudy and blustery open to the work week. As cold air advection (CAA) kicks in overnight and Tuesday, snow showers will develop across the region.  We’ll also note the potential of a more intense and persistent lake effect band setting up across east-central Indiana (where a couple inches will accumulate Tuesday).  If your travels take you into eastern and northeastern portions of the state Tuesday, prepare for sudden drops in visibility and slick travel.

Additional upper level energy will scoot through here during the middle part of the work week and while this will help to reinforce the cold, it’ll also provide scattered snow showers.

We’ll switch gears and get into a briefly milder southwesterly air flow over the upcoming weekend.  Strong and gusty southwest winds will aid in giving a boost to the mercury, but showers will make for a damp end to the weekend.

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

  • Snowfall: Dusting (for most) to 2″ across east-central Indiana
  • Rainfall: 0.25″

Here Comes Winter…

Highlights:

  • Falling temperatures Tuesday
  • Much colder
  • Active northwest flow

Winter Engaged…Showers and embedded thunderstorms will rumble across the state during the overnight as a cold front draws closer.  This is a “game changer” of a cold front, separating anomalous warmth over the past few days to a locked and loaded winter pattern.  Temperatures will fall through the day Tuesday and just enough wrap around moisture will be present to support mention of evening flurries.

Morning scattered snow showers will continue early Wednesday before a reinforcing blast of arctic air blows into town at night.  This will set up a frigid close to the work week and feature a fast paced northwest flow pattern into the upcoming weekend.  We’ll have to remain very focused on upper level energy over the weekend.  Models have been struggling (as expected given the pattern) on the specifics and we know this type regime can overachieve in the snow department.  As things stand now, a period of snow showers with light accumulation still seems like a good bet Friday into Saturday.

Another (potentially more significant) snow event looms early next week…

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

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