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Forecast Discussion for Indianapolis, IN
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833 FXUS63 KIND 011405 AFDIND Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 1005 AM EDT Fri May 1 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Spotty showers early this morning. Becoming partly sunny this afternoon. - Below normal temps to continue through the weekend with frost likely Saturday and possible Sunday - Slow warm up with rain returning early next week, potential for heavy rain at times && .FORECAST UPDATE... Issued at 1004 AM EDT Fri May 1 2026 Weak low pressure continues to push through the area this morning, with the bulk of shower activity ahead of it soon to exit central Indiana. Lingering stratocumulus and weak cold advection in the wake of the low will keep diurnal warming to a minimum across most of the area today, with highs unlikely to get out of the 50s except perhaps in the far southwest. Steep low level lapse rates and lingering moisture, along with a very weak secondary upper wave may be able to produce some sprinkles this afternoon, and will insert a mention of this, but this is the only real change to the going forecast. && .DISCUSSION (Today through Thursday)... Issued at 238 AM EDT Fri May 1 2026 Surface analysis early this morning shows a poorly organized trough over MI, into western Indiana and to southern IL. Wind directions in the wake of the front were mainly west to northwest. Radar was showing scattered rain showers along and ahead of the front, with best coverage over northern Indiana. Aloft, water vapor was showing a deep low over Ontario and Quebec. This was keeping cyclonic upper flow over the Great Lakes, but a brief zonal flow was in place over Indiana. A weak short wave was within this flow, and was mainly responsible for producing the weak surface trough moving across Indiana. Today... The weak short wave will quickly depart central Indiana this morning. In the wake of the system winds will become northwesterly allowing for some cold air advection. Overall, subsidence will be the main player through the day, but forecast soundings suggest BKN CU for much of the day. The progression of the system could allow for some lingering showers across the eastern parts of the forecast area this morning, but this should quickly depart leading to a dry and cool day. Tonight... Cool high pressure over the plains is suggested to begin to build across Indiana. This result in clearing skies across Indiana through the night. Forecast soundings suggest a dry column amid cold air advection. With 850mb temps falling to near -4C...lows in the mid 30s will be possible. This combined with light winds may result in frost formation and a Frost Advisory will be issued. Saturday...Another trough rotating around the low pressure across Canada is expected to push across Indiana on Saturday, providing some upper forcing. Forecast soundings show steep inverted V soundings favorable for shallow convection. Convective temperatures are attainable. Although widespread precipitation will not be expected, enough of signal remains to include some low chance pops in the afternoon. Highs will only be in the 50s. Saturday Night and Sunday... After heating is lost and the upper wave departs by Saturday night, the upper flow is suggested to become more northwesterly as high pressure at the surface sets up over the gulf coast. This will allow for a warmer, southerly flow to develop. Forecast soundings show dry lower and mid levels. Thus will just expect a partly cloud sky and warm conclusion to the weekend. Monday through Thursday.... Daily chances for rain showers will be expected on Monday through Thursday. On Monday, a nearly zonal flow will be in place aloft, while a surface cold front is approaching from the west. This will allow a warmer southwesterly flow across central Indiana, and we will reside within the warm sector. Weak forcing along with diurnal heating may lead to afternoon convection. Stronger forcing will arrive on Monday night into Tuesday as the surface cold front will arrive and pass through the day on Tuesday. Given this, chances will be needed on both Monday and Tuesday as these features pass. On Wednesday and Thursday, the upper pattern is suggested to change as deep low pressure over Ontario sags southward across the Great Lakes and into the Ohio valley. This will keep cyclonic flow in place over Central Indiana on both Wednesday and Thursday. Weak short waves within that flow are expected to pass. On Thursday, an associated surface trough is also expected to pass. These features will have no access to to deep gulf moisture, thus any precip with them should remain rather light, but chances for precipitation will be needed nonetheless. Temperatures should be warmest on Monday, as that will be the only day within the warm sector. Cooler temperatures will arrive for Tuesday through Thursday as cyclonic flow aloft and mainly NW surface flow will allow for cool Canadian air to remain present. && .AVIATION (12Z TAF Issuance)... Issued at 628 AM EDT Fri May 1 2026 Impacts: - Light showers ending by 14Z-15Z - MVFR ceilings possible through 15Z. - Return to VFR after 15Z. Discussion: Radar shows rain showers with passing wave over much of Central Indiana. The back edge has passed LAF and HUF, with very limited coverage near BMG. HRRR suggests this precip should quickly exit to the east by 14Z-15Z, leaving just some clouds in it/s wake. GOES shows clear skies over IL, however SC/CU development is expected this morning before more dry air and subsidence arrives by this afternoon, leading to VFR at all TAF sites. Any remaining clouds will be lost late in the day as heating and mixing is lost. High pressure will build across the area tonight and mostly clear skies and light winds are expected under the influence of the high. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Frost Advisory from midnight tonight to 9 AM EDT Saturday for INZ021-028>031-035>049-054>057-065. && $$ UPDATE...Nield AVIATION...Puma DISCUSSION...Puma |
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