Category: Tropics

VIDEO: So Long Pleasant Air; Storm Chances Return…

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Wet Day; Enhanced Flood Risk Tonight For Some…

The National Weather Service has expanded the Flash Flood Watch to encompass more of the viewing area.  This is in effect until 8p Tuesday.

Screen Shot 2016-08-15 at 7.26.16 AMNo doubt about it, today will be very wet across the entire region, including periods of heavy rain- especially across the western half of the state.

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4Tropical moisture will continue to stream into the state tonight into Tuesday.  In fact, most intense rains will likely set up tonight and may feature “banding” signatures that would train over the same areas.  Within these intense rain bands, prolific rainfall rates can be expected, enhancing the flash flood risk.  Latest short-term model data shows this threat, and would place a premium focus on areas generally west of US-31.  We’ll have to keep a close eye on things.

2Plenty of “juice” is available to tap into across western sections tonight.  Precipitable water values (PWATs) of 2″-2.5″ will be more than enough to fuel torrential rainfall.

hrrr_pwat_indy_16Eventually (mid and late week), we’ll dry things out and a significant cool down is still in store developing this weekend into early next week.  Lows will fall deep into the 50s with highs only in the 70s.  Talk about an early taste of fall…

gfs-ens_T2maMean_us_6

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/wet-day-enhanced-flood-risk-tonight-for-some/

Heavy Rain Continues; Early Fall Preview Late Next Weekend…

Screen Shot 2016-08-14 at 9.57.05 AMHighlights:

  • Periods of heavy rain
  • Drying out come mid week
  • Cold front arrives next weekend

Flooding Concerns…Renewed heavy rain is pushing through central IN as we write up the morning forecast package.  This conveyor belt of moisture will continue to lift northeast and eventually break up and diminish during the late morning and early afternoon.  Despite scattered showers this afternoon, drier times will ensue, overall.  Unfortunately, this drier period won’t last long as another slug of moisture lifts north late tonight and continues Monday.   Additional heavy rainfall can be expected, including the potential of rainfall rates approaching 2″+/ hour.  Given the water-logged soils across the region, concerns of flash flooding are very high Monday.

Eventually, we’ll dry things out come mid week and introduce more sunshine back into the forecast.  Our next item on the agenda will be a cold front that will sweep through the state Saturday.  Scattered showers and thunderstorms will accompany the boundary as it moves through the region before much drier and cooler air blows in for the second half of the weekend.  In fact, a welcomed early fall preview awaits come Sunday.  Thoughts of football, pumpkin “everything,” bonfires, and apple cider will be prevalent this time next week…

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

  • Snowfall: 0.00″
  • Rainfall: 2″-4″ (locally heavier totals)

 

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/heavy-rain-continues-early-fall-preview-late-next-weekend/

“Lull” In The Rain Won’t Last…

Central Indiana is enjoying some needed “down time” in the rainfall department this evening, but this won’t last as rain coverage and intensity returns overnight and Sunday morning. Like today, locally heavy downpours will be likely.

Forecast radar at 4a

Forecast radar at 6a.

Forecast radar at 11a.


In looking at early 00z data, it appears as if we deal with (2) waves of rain Sunday:

Sunday morning will feature widespread rain across central Indiana, including localized heavy rain. Another “lull” in the activity will likely arrive Sunday afternoon into the evening hours, but we caution rain and embedded thunder will really begin to ramp up and increase in coverage and intensity yet again late Sunday night into the day Monday. 

The second surge of moisture is more in direct association with the tropical moisture and energy moving north. This area of rain will likely include embedded rates of 3″-4″/ hour for some very localized areas. It’s impossible to pin point where these areas are, but don’t be surprised to hear (or see) some very heavy rain Monday. 

A true Gulf of Mexico connection will be present Monday and aid in flooding prospects.


When we factor in expected rain from tomorrow and Monday, it would appear as if central IN is in line to accumulate an additional 2″-4″ with locally heavier amounts. Flooding prospects will increase dramatically Monday as heavy rain falls on saturated soils. Please, take warnings seriously. Rapid water rises are likely.

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/lull-in-the-rain-wont-last/

Multi-Day Heavy Rain Event…

Central IN is still in play for a multi-day heavy rain event that begins this weekend and continues into the middle of next week.

The setup is still one that features a wavy cold front that will halt to a crawl (eventually becoming stationary) over central and southern IN over the weekend.  Additionally, tropical moisture will continue to slowly push north, before curling northeast (following the frontal boundary) into the Ohio Valley.  The image below from Monday displays the setup nicely.

Wknd8:13Despite lackluster model output from our American suite (latest NAM and SREF data, for instance, paints rainfall totals under 1″ across most central IN neighborhoods), the European remains consistent on the evolution of things from this weekend into the middle of next week.  We’ll lean more towards it’s solution at this juncture.  Simply put, when you have a stalled frontal boundary entraining tropical moisture, expect problems.  Precipitable water values will approach and even exceed 2″ at times this weekend.  Dew points will remain in the upper 60s to lower 70s along and south of the boundary.  Where the boundary stalls will be key in determining the heaviest rain totals and resulting flood problems that will ensue.  For now, here’s the best idea we have in regards to local 4″+ totals between this weekend and next Wednesday.

HVYRainTotalsIt should also be pointed out that we’re not looking at all day rains Saturday through Wednesday, but instead “waves” of moisture throughout the period.  Areas of locally heavy rain will be with us, but we’ll also see dry periods in between.  Thankfully, as we move into the latter portions of next week, drier times should return.

We’ll be here through the weekend to keep you updated on things, as well as on social media.  Stay tuned.

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