Category: Severe Weather

Wednesday Morning Rambles: Midweek Storms, MJO Impacts On Late March Pattern…

I. The morning is off to a quiet, chilly start, but clouds will lower and thicken through the morning and rain will soon follow. Periods of moderate to heavy rain can be expected this afternoon into the early evening hours, including widespread 0.50″ to 1″ with a few locally heavier amounts.

Rain will become widespread across the region through the afternoon.
Most of central Indiana can expect between 0.5″ and 1″ by midnight.

II. A changeable weather day is on tap Thursday with a couple of rounds of storms expected- late morning and again during the evening and night. The initial round of storms will lift northeast across the state Thursday morning into early afternoon, courtesy of a warm front. Highs will flirt with 70° tomorrow afternoon once the storms move out.

A cold front will then sweep through the region during the overnight. Additional storms (some potentially strong to severe) will take place as the front moves through the region.

A few storms may be strong to severe as the cold front moves through Thursday evening-night.

III. We’ll turn MUCH colder, but at least the sunshine will return as we move through the weekend. Lows in the 20s can be expected.

IV. Our next storm system looks to arrive Tuesday. From this distance, it appears this will be a potent system, including strong winds and heavy rain.

V. Longer term, we continue to watch the various players align. The MJO looks to amplify and rumble into Phase 3 by late March. The movement through Phases 1-2 can at least generate transient cold for our neck of the woods before Phase 3 favors the brunt of the cold across the West. Interestingly, this is what the latest European ensemble is also showing.

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2020/03/18/wednesday-morning-rambles-midweek-storms-mjo-impacts-on-late-march-pattern/

VIDEO: Enjoy Today’s Sun; Heavy Rain And Storms Build In For Midweek…

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Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2020/03/17/video-enjoy-todays-sun-heavy-rain-and-storms-build-in-for-midweek/

Reviewing Saturday’s Snow And Looking Ahead To Another Busy Week…

Snow moved in during the predawn hours Saturday across north-central Indiana before encompassing more of central Indiana as the morning progressed. By mid-late morning, an incredibly intense band (2″+/ hour snowfall rates) set-up shop just north of Indianapolis. This was a byproduct of strong frontogenesis and dynamic cooling. Speaking of frontogenesis, if interested, here’s a fantastic article that can explain things further.

The end result was an “overachieving” wet snow event across north-central Indiana, including as far south as the northern Indianapolis ‘burbs. Sleet made it as far south as Greenwood before precipitation ended Saturday evening.

While the placement of our accumulating snow zone was a good one, amounts of 4″ to 5″ were reported throughout the southern half of this 1″ to 2″ forecast zone. This morning’s snowfall analysis shows the narrow, but moderate stripe of wet snow through the state:

As the sun rises and clouds begin to depart, that snowpack is showing up on this morning’s visible satellite image.

Officially, Indianapolis recorded 1.2″ Saturday, but as noted above, areas just north received as much as 4″ to 5″. With that increasing March sunshine today, snow will be all but a distant memory by later this afternoon. The average high for March 15th is in the lower 50s. Most will be 5° to 7° colder than that today with mid 40s for most.

As we turn the page and look ahead to what the remainder of the week will provide, a weak cold front will sweep through the Ohio Valley Monday night and Tuesday. This will be a moisture-starved frontal passage with only scattered, light showers anticipated tomorrow evening/ early Tuesday.

Things then turn much more unsettled as we head into the second half of the week. An initial wave of moisture will result in a period of moderate to heavy rain Wednesday. This will be followed up with a round of thunderstorms Thursday PM into early Friday morning. Some of these storms may reach strong to severe levels and will require us to continue to closely monitor things throughout the week.

Widespread 2″ to 2.5″+ rainfall amounts can be expected by the time everything winds down Friday afternoon. Most of that will fall Wednesday and Thursday night/ Friday morning.

We’ll dry out next weekend, but shift to a much colder time of things (lows in the 20s and highs in the 40s). This will come as a rather rude shock after highs Thursday flirt with the 65° to 70° mark.

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2020/03/15/reviewing-saturdays-snow-and-looking-ahead-to-another-busy-week/

VIDEO: Wet Snow Accumulates For Some Today; Severe Weather Set-Up Late Next Week…

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Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2020/03/14/video-wet-snow-accumulates-for-some-today-severe-weather-set-up-late-next-week/

VIDEO: Severe Weather Episode Set To Unfold Across Southern IN This Afternoon-Evening…

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Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2020/03/12/video-severe-weather-episode-set-to-unfold-across-southern-in-this-afternoon-evening/

VIDEO: Storms To Snow; Long Range Update Into Late March…

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Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2020/03/11/video-storms-to-snow-long-range-update-into-late-march/

Long Range Update: Active Mid-March Storm Track…

After a relatively quieter stretch of weather as of late, all signals ahead point towards an increasingly busy time of things over the upcoming couple of weeks. After (2) systems that will track in more of west-east fashion across the Ohio Valley during the 1st half of next week, the mean storm track will shift towards one that features low pressure systems moving out of the south-central Plains into the western Great Lakes thereafter.

What this will do is replace a couple of systems (the mid-week one likely to still dish out wintry precipitation across the northern Ohio Valley/ Great Lakes region) during the first half of next week that feature cooler air and lighter rain with a more traditional spring flavor. The storm systems that impact our area during the mid-March time period will include heavier rain potential, along with warmer/ more humid air and the risk of stronger storms.

Just in the next 2 weeks, we count a total of (5) storm systems that will impact the region. In the face of what the latest JMA Weeklies were trying to suggest around drier conditions, it appears as if our wet March forecast will play out nicely.

Note the longer range computer model guidance from the GEFS and European Weeklies also see the wet anomalies greatest through an area that includes the Ohio Valley.

We’ll also have to begin paying attention to the potential of increased severe weather threats into the Ohio Valley with the expected mid-March storm track.

In the short-term, if you can deal with today’s snow and wintry feel, a gorgeous weekend is dialed up, including plentiful sunshine and quickly moderating temperatures (low 50s Saturday and low 60s Sunday).

More later!

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2020/03/06/long-range-update-active-mid-march-storm-track/

Evening Review Of Data; Early Idea Of Heaviest Snow Axis Wednesday-Thursday…

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Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2020/02/10/evening-review-of-data-early-idea-of-heaviest-snow-axis-wednesday-thursday/

Harvest ’19: Tracking Another Significant Storm This Week…

*Starting November 1st, our weekly agriculture and harvest updates will transition to weekly winter storm outlooks. We’ll maintain a lot of the feedback y’all have provided with the new weekly winter products. Come next growing season, the weekly agriculture and severe weather updates will return.

Forecast Period: 10.27.19 through 11.03.19

7-Day Precipitation: Average average precipitation is expected through the period.

7-Day Temperatures: Once the forecast period is said and done, below average temperatures can be expected, overall.

Severe Weather: Organized severe weather isn’t expected during the period.

Frost/ Freeze: The first frost and freeze of the fall season will likely take place next weekend across portions of the Deep South.

Drought Monitor: The latest drought monitor (taken before Friday and Saturday’s rain) shows abnormally dry/ drought conditions in place across southern IN into central OH. Thankfully, a long-term drought isn’t expected here. The pattern not only at present, but throughout the upcoming winter will feature plentiful precipitation, erasing any of the abnormally dry conditions that are currently in place.

Summary: We’re monitoring a couple of storm systems this week. The first system will scoot by to our northwest with a band of rain and snow from KS, IA, and into IL and WI during the early part of the work week. A second, stronger system will impact the region Wednesday into Friday. Another wind-driven rain will be the result, locally, Wednesday into Thursday before sharply colder air arrives to close the work week. The air will grow cold enough to support the potential of flurries or scattered snow showers late Thursday night into Friday. The first official freeze of the season is likely next weekend. Upcoming 7-day rainfall totals are expected to fall in the 0.75″ to 1.25″ range for most of immediate central Indiana.

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2019/10/27/harvest-19-tracking-another-significant-storm-this-week/

Wet, Windy, And Stormy Day Ahead…

A cold front will push across the Ohio Valley today. Ahead of the front, widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected. A few of these storms may become strong to severe with damaging straight line winds being the biggest concern.

The Storm Prediction Center now includes portions of central Indiana in a ‘marginal’ risk for severe weather.

We expect a couple of rounds of storms today- one mid to late morning followed by another this evening directly ahead of the cold front.

Forecast radar 10a
Forecast radar 7p

Rain will end from west to east during the evening as the cold front sweeps across the state. Before that, some area rain gauges may accumulate around an inch of rain today (a few locally heavier totals possible).

The other headline today will be strong and gusty winds (originally out of the southwest before shifting to west this evening). Even outside of thunderstorms, gusts in excess of 40 MPH can be expected.

Drier and cooler air will arrive Tuesday through Thursday before another chilly, wet weather maker blows into town Thursday evening into Friday.

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2019/10/21/wet-windy-and-stormy-day-ahead/

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