Winter Finally Shows Up…

Highlights:

  • Much colder than average
  • Snow prospects to open the week
  • Busy pattern continues

Locked In A Cold Pattern…The stretch of spring-like, unseasonably warm, conditions we enjoyed through most of February and to open March will be all but a distant memory once to this time next week.  A major reversal to a colder than normal pattern is now with us and will feature lows into the teens on a few nights over the upcoming week.

Additionally, we continue to highlight the fast-moving northwest flow aloft.  This kind of regime wrecks havoc on forecast models and, accordingly, we have lower than normal confidence in the specifics late in the work week.  Stay tuned.

Before we get to late week, we have a disturbance (that will eventually help feed a blockbuster Nor Easter) that will deliver snow as we open up the work week.  This time of year, snow intensity and time of day mean a world of difference between an accumulating event, or not.  Snow should overspread central Indiana before sunrise Monday and will likely accumulate before the higher sun angle takes over and lighter snowfall rates result in a lack of daytime accumulation.  As reinforcing cold air filters in Monday night, additional light accumulation will be possible in scattered heavier snow showers that will continue into Tuesday.  All-in-all, this doesn’t appear to be a huge event, but a few slick spots will be possible Monday morning before that higher March sun angle gets to work.  We’ll keep a close eye on things.

Moving forward, we’re confident on the overall colder than normal pattern that will continue into Saint Patrick’s Day, but, as mentioned above, fine tuning will be required with the potential of a late week storm system to contend with.

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

  • Snowfall: 1″ – 3″
  • Rainfall: 0.25″ – 0.50″

Strong Wind Event; Winter Makes A Comeback…

Highlights:

  • Windy day ahead
  • Colder pattern develops
  • Two snow chances in the days ahead

Hold On To Your Hats…The big story today will be developing strong and gusty winds, especially from the city and points north.  Westerly gusts will approach 50 MPH+ this afternoon and evening.  Hold onto your hats (and steering wheels)!

As we move into the latter portions of the week and into next week, a fast and active weather pattern will develop.  Three disturbances will have at least some impact on our weather between Thursday evening and Tuesday morning.

The first disturbance will result in an increase in cloudiness late Thursday along with an evening shower- especially across far eastern portions of the state.  We’ll turn much colder to close the week and that’s when our second disturbance will approach.  Clouds will increase Saturday and light snow is possible.  Models have trended further south with this disturbance, but we need to keep an eye on this as a last-minute shift north could take place.  As of this update, the most impactful disturbance looks to be the one that arrives Monday into Tuesday.  Accordingly, we’ll forecast developing snow Monday, continuing Tuesday with strong and gusty winds and even colder air.

After a prolonged stretch of spring-like warmth, the upcoming forecast period will serve as harsh reality that Old Man Winter still has some fight left in him.

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

  • Snowfall: 1″ – 3″
  • Rainfall: 0.10″

Rain Coverage Increases; Weekend Winter Storm Brewing?

Highlights:

  • Increasing coverage of showers and t-storms
  • Mostly dry mid week period
  • Weekend wintry fun and games

Busy Week Of Weather…The week is off to an unseasonably mild start as a strong southerly flow continues ahead of an approaching cold front.  That cold front will continue to push east today and sweep through the state Tuesday morning.  Coverage of showers will increase as we go through the late morning and early afternoon hours, but there will still be periods of dry weather today.  Best coverage of rain and thunderstorms will arrive overnight when most are sleeping and end (from northeast to southwest) Tuesday morning.

Mid week is relatively quiet as we begin to transition from a spring-like beginning to more of a winter-like close.  A weak weather system could offer up a few showers Thursday evening, but enthusiasm isn’t high for this to be a big deal.

A more significant storm will move in over the weekend.  This is a complex set-up, but we note anomalously cold air poised to spill south from Canada.  Given the trend of the winter, we’re treading lightly from hitting the big snow theme models currently suggest.  That said, the set-up is one that raises an eyebrow for the potential of a late season, impactful, winter event.  Stay tuned this week as we fine tune the details moving forward.  A word of caution, if we get snow down this weekend, we’ll have to lower temperatures even further for Sunday…

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

  • Snowfall: 1″ – 3″
  • Rainfall: 0.50″ – 1.00″

Sunday Afternoon Rambles…

1.)  It’s another unseasonably pleasant afternoon across central Indiana.  Despite a gusty SW breeze (open county is approaching 40 MPH throughout central IN Sunday afternoon), the sunshine and warm temperatures are providing a phenomenal second half of the weekend.

Temperatures are running 20+ degrees above normal this afternoon.

2.)  Clouds will begin to increase tonight and give way to showers as we open the work week.  There will be plenty of dry time Monday morning into the afternoon, but a passing shower will remain in our forecast.  Heavier rain and embedded thunderstorms will arrive on the scene Monday night into the wee morning hours Tuesday.  As a whole, we expect between 0.50-1″ of rain, overall, by Tuesday morning.

Greatest rainfall coverage will arrive overnight Monday night.

3.)  We’ll trend cooler for the mid week stretch, but nothing “cold” for this time of year.  In fact, temperatures will remain above average as high pressure provides dry conditions.

Weak high pressure builds in for mid week.

4.)  Confidence is high on an active period of weather arriving for the weekend into potentially early parts of next week.  That said, despite overall high confidence on a busy time of things, the specifics remain “murky,” at best.  It’ll be important to check back for updates on the weekend forecast as we progress through the upcoming week.  Solutions range anywhere from a period of rain and storms to possibly some wintry “mischief.”  One thing seems certain and that’s for a period of colder air (below normal) arriving in the 8-10 day period.  In fact, the latest European model suggests overnight low in the 10s late next weekend.

The weather turns active next weekend.

AM Snow Gives Way To Increasing Sunshine…

Highlights:

  • AM snow ends
  • Windy warm-up coming
  • Early week storms

Snowy For Some This Morning…A narrow band of heavy snow has deposited 1″-2″ for neighborhoods northeast of the city.  Places like Anderson, New Castle, and Richmond were the “sweet spot” for this event.  Thank you for the reports!

As quickly as the snow hit, it’ll depart and be a distant memory this afternoon, as increasingly sunny conditions develop, along with moderating temperatures.  This is the beginning of a weekend warm-up that will send temperatures into the lower 60s Sunday afternoon though we will have to deal with a possible passing shower and strong and gusty southwest winds.

A cold front will sweep through the state to open the work week and help increase overall coverage of showers and thunderstorms Monday- especially during the evening and nighttime hours.  Early showers Tuesday will end and give way to drier, cooler conditions for mid week.

Our next storm system will approach next weekend.  The work week will end with another windy warm-up, along with showers by evening.

Upcoming 7-Day Precipitation Forecast:

  • Snowfall:  Dusting – 1″
  • Rainfall:  0.50″ – 1.00″