Clouds Return Monday Along with Spotty Showers

December 16, 2012

Temperatures will remain mild again tonight but not nearly as warm as what we saw going into this morning. Lows should fall into the upper 30s and low 40s. This is still considered very warm for this time of year. 24°F is the "normal" low temperature

Overnight Drizzle, Some Sunshine on Sunday

December 15, 2012

Evening Light Snow, Much Colder Night

December 10, 2012

Temperatures fell throughout the day in Central Indiana and we are left around the 30 degree mark this evening.  But compared to this time yesterday, most locations are 20°F cooler!

Evening Rain Continues.. Turning Colder

December 9, 2012

Our odd December weather continues tonight in Central Indiana with showers, fog and even some isolated thunderstorms.  Evening temperatures were still in the 50s!  Here's a look at the high temperatures for the day.  These were the "official" numbers as of 7:30 PM.

Scattered showers move in Sunday morning and continue throughout the day. We will even have a chance for some isolated thunderstorms after the noon hour.

December 8, 2012

Temperatures will hold nearly steady after 10 PM as warm and moist air continues to build in Central Indiana. We could see some isolated showers overnight, but the main chance will be Sunday.  Skies will remain overcast tonight. Here's a look at your 7 AM temperatures on Sunday.

Cold Air Returns as Clouds Move Out

December 4, 2012

Rainfall is moving out of Central Indiana this evening and the light nature of the majority of these showers resulted in not so impressive rainfall totals.  Indianapolis recorded .14" of rain.

SHOWERS AND ISOLATED STORMS RETURN

December 3, 2012

We had another warm afternoon in Central Indiana as temperatures rose into the upper 60s and low 70s.  Indianapolis officially hit 69°F today and that ties the record from 1982.

Foggy Night, Cloudy & Warm Monday

December 2, 2012

Despite only bottoming out at 54°F this morning, we climbed very slowly during the day due to cloud cover. We officially hit 62°F, which is still significantly above normal.

RAIN MOVES IN ... REMAINING WARM

December 1, 2012

We've been on the uphill climb on the weather roller coaster this week. Tuesday was our coldest day of the week with a high of 40°F. Fast forward to today and 23°F warmer, and you get an amazingly warm start to December. The last time we were this warm was back in 1995.  That day we hit 62°F. As warm as this must seem, it's not record breaking.  For that, you have to go back to 1970 when we hit 70°F on December 1st.

Clouds will slowly increase tonight and winds will continue from the south. This will result in a mild night, lows only fall to 43°F! Clouds continue to increase on Saturday but despite the cloud cover, it will be another warm day.

November 30, 2012

Temperatures continued to warm up today and we topped out at 58°F in Indianapolis.  This was a nice jump from our Thursday highs.

Clouds has rolled back in this evening and this will actually help out our temperatures in the overnight hours.

November 27, 2012

Temperatures were much cooler in Central Indiana this afternoon.  Most recording stations observed high temperatures from 37-40°F.  This leaves us well below normal for this time of year (normal is 47°F). 

EVENING SNOWFALL.. TURNING COLDER

November 26, 2012

It's time to talk about that four letter word you either love or hate: snow!  A cold front is dropping through Central Indiana this evening.  We could initially see a wintry mix out of this line in our very northern locations during the evening hours as temperatures will still be falling.  But the change over from this to snowfall shouldn't take too long.  Temperatures are falling quickly with the cold front.

STAYING CLOUDY AND COOL

November 25, 2012

Temperatures improved quite  a bit today, getting back to 46°F and near normal.  This is a huge improvement over the Saturday temperatures that only reached the freezing mark.

Many of you are about to hit the road over the next few days. Here is a breakdown of travel conditions here in the Midwest.

November 21, 2012

Fog remains a problem in northern Indiana, Central Illinois and northern Illinois early this afternoon.  That fog should dissipate soon and improve travel conditions for those driving and flying this afternoon.

This week has many of this reflecting on what we are thankful for in life. The warm weather may be making an appearance on many of your lists this year.

November 18, 2012

This week has many of this reflecting on what we are thankful for in life.  The warm weather may be making an appearance on many of your lists this year once you check out the forecast!

WARM TEMPERATURES CONTINUE.. FOR NOW

November 17, 2012

Central Indiana finally got out of a cold funk that was present throughout the work week.  Today we officially went above normal, hitting 55°F here in Indianapolis.  Here are some other high temperatures from across the area:

WINTER WEATHER PREPAREDNESS WEEK

November 12, 2012

This morning was a big reminder that winter is right around the corner.  The National Weather Service is conducting Winter Weather Preparedness Week during this entire week to bring up different ways that you can stay safe and prepared during the winter months.  Today, let's talk about how to be prepared on the road for bad conditions.

Rainy Start to Monday, Turning Cold

November 11, 2012

Conditions will remain windy this evening before the rainfall arrives.  Winds will be in from the south at 15 to 25 mph.  Wind gusts up to 45 mph toward the Illinois/Indiana state line will be possible until the Wind Advisory ends at 9 PM.  It will still be breezy when rainfall arrives to the state line between 10-11 PM. Here in the metro, it will likely be after midnight before these showers start to arrive. 

WINDY & WARM SUNDAY LEADS TO RAIN

November 10, 2012

Talk about a beautiful day in Central Indiana.  Skies were mostly clear and temperatures soared into the low 70s!!  Indianapolis was actually 3 degrees shy of tying the record of 75°F from 1949. 

Election Day Forecast

November 6, 2012

Heading out the polls soon? Expect plenty of sunshine over the noon hour with temperatures in the mid to low 40s. But if you are heading out to the polls later in the day, clouds will return and so will the chance for some spotty showers.

Cold Night Leads to a Cold Monday

November 4, 2012

It will be another cold night in Central Indiana. Temperatures will fall into the upper 20s for much of the state. This leaves us at least 10°F below normal for an overnight temperature. The normal low is 39°F.

Colts Forecast & Next Rainfall Chance

November 3, 2012

We definitely had an interesting day in Indiana with a rain/sleet mixture in some locations while others got hail in some isolated thunderstorms.  Here are a few of the reports we got today of both events:

Cold, breezy evening during trick-or-treating hours

October 31, 2012

Happy Halloween!  We are in for a chilly day once again in Central Indiana and this also means a cold evening for trick or treating in area neighborhoods.  Here is a break down of the temperatures from 6 to 8 PM today:

Hunter's Moon and Tuesday Winds & Rain

October 30, 2012

Good Morning!  We are obviously in for a windy day as the gusty conditions have already been felt.  But before we dive into the forecast for the day, I want to quickly talk about the full moon.

Temperatures will remain cool as we kick off the work week thanks to a persistent northwest wind here in Central Indiana.

October 28, 2012

Skies will be partly cloudy across Central Indiana tonight and this should allow temperatures to fall to 31-34°F across the state.  This will once again leave us cooler than normal for the overnight temperature and the cold nights will easily be in place for the majority of the work week ahead.

A cold night leads to a cool Sunday

October 27, 2012

Temperatures will fall quickly tonight as our cloud deck decreases.  Temperatures should fall to freezing or just below the freezing mark across the state.  This is considered cold for this time of the year.  Typically, overnight temperatures at the end of October are closer to 41°F.

RETURN ON SUMMER TEMPERATURES

October 21, 2012

We are in for a warm night here in Central Indiana thanks to the return of clouds and also a steady southern wind.  Temperatures will technically bottom out between 1-3 AM and then slowly start to rise before sunrise.  Here's a look at what temperatures will be like around 7 AM.

A deepening low pressure system will move a round of storms through Central Indiana on Sunday. Some of the strong to severe storms could produce high winds in the area.

October 13, 2012

Central Indiana is between waves of rainfall this evening and will be throughout much of the night. The only place that could see some showers after 1 AM is our very northwestern edge. 

Cold Front Passes Creating a Cooler Wednesday

October 9, 2012

We had a beautiful day here in Central Indiana with clear skies and warmer temperatures.  Highs climbed back into the low 60s.  This still left our area below normal for this time of year as highs should top out closer to 68°F.

Playing bingo for breast cancer research

October 9, 2012

I was invited by the Simon Property Group to enjoy their employees this afternoon for a few rounds of bingo.  Employees purchased bingo cards and the proceeds went toward breast cancer research through Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.  In all, Simon employees helped raise $1,000 this afternoon. 

WARM AIR MOVING IN!

October 8, 2012

Central Indiana will have another cold night with some patchy frost possible to start off Tuesday.  The combination of clear skies and light winds will allow temperatures to fall to 37°F here in the city, but down to 33-35°F in the outlying areas.

FROST OVERNIGHT, SUNSHINE RETURNS

October 7, 2012

Central Indiana is under a FREEZE WARNING from 2 AM to 9 AM Monday.  Temperatures will fall into the mid to low 30s and this will produce frost throughout Central Indiana.  Sensitive plants will be damaged or killed tonight if you don't cover them up or bring them indoors.  Remember, if you are covering your plants, use a breathable fabric and stay away from plastic coverings.

Clouds will increase overnight but temperatures will still be cool. Sunshine will return late Sunday afternoon.

October 6, 2012

Temperatures actually improved in Central Indiana on Saturday thanks to the lack of rainfall and the presence of sunshine.  But it was still a day that was considered well below normal for this time of year.  The average daily high for October 6th is actually 69°F.  Our temperatures only hit the mid to low 50s. 

Rainfall will slowly move into Central Indiana on Monday from the south. Rainfall will start south of I-70 by the noon hour and reach the city after 3 PM.

September 30, 2012

We had another sunny start to the day in Central Indiana and it was a great way to start our Sunday.  Clouds are finally starting to move back in from the south this evening well ahead of our next rain system.   This leading edge of clouds will be high and thin but the cloud deck will thicken Monday.  

Cool Sunday Ahead

September 29, 2012

We had another pleasant day here in Central Indiana with sunny skies and normal temperatures.  Here's a look at the high temperatures around the area:

GOOD EVENING FOR FOOTBALL!

September 28, 2012

A quiet evening is on tap in Central Indiana, but that just means more noise from area fans at football games.  Skies will remain partly cloudy this evening and the radar will be rain free!  Here's a look at your temperatures at kick off and by the time the game wraps up.

Wet September but Drought Remains

September 27, 2012

September will likely end as the 5th wettest September on record for Indianapolis.  Our official total from the airport is now up to 7.73" for the month.  The record is 10.37" of rain in 2003.

Meteorologist Jennifer Ketchmark talks weather with Zionsville elementary students

September 24, 2012

First grade students at Union Elementary School in Zionsville got a quick lesson on broadcast meteorology Monday.  All four classes joined in on the presentation and the kids were full of great questions and also actively participated in the discussion.  Here's a look at the whole group!

First frost of fall season expected

September 23, 2012

Central Indiana had another cool day with temperatures that failed to reach "average" again.  The normal high this time of year is actually closer to 75°F but we only hit the low 60s.  This is due to a ridge of high pressure and a Canadian air mass moving into the Ohio Valley. 

Falling into Fall

September 22, 2012

Fall officially started this morning and Central Indiana really got a taste of fall-like temperatures.  High temperatures only increased into the mid 60s for many of our towns.  But some spots like Lafayette and Peru only hit the mid 50s!  For the first day of fall, the average high is 76°F and the low is 54°F.  This shows you just how much of an impact this Canadian air has had on the state.

Cooler temperatures across Central Indiana Tuesday

September 18, 2012

The showers from last night are moving off to the east Tuesday but what this system has left in Central Indiana is much cooler air.  Cloud cover Tuesday morning kept temperatures below the 60 degree mark prior to the noon hour.  We will start to see some clearing in our western counties this afternoon as the cold deck moves out.  The return of sunshine will help our temperature out a little bit, but don't expect temperatures to climb any higher than 65°F today.

Clouds increase and so do rainfall chances Monday

September 16, 2012

Central Indiana is in for another pleasant night thanks to fair skies and light winds.  Lows should fall into the mid to upper 50s across the state.  The average low for this time of year is 56°F, so this puts us rather close to normal for the night.

The combination of sunshine and a southern wind will result in slowly climbing temperatures this week. What we need is cloud cover or rain to bring back the fall like temperatures.

September 11, 2012

Good afternoon!  We are experiencing another beautiful day here in Central Indiana but you can tell that the temperature is rising a bit more quickly.  The combination of sunshine and a weak south wind are working together to bump up our temperature.  Highs should still top out around 83°F today.

Chilly Night Leads to Another Beautiful Day

September 9, 2012

Central Indiana got another taste of fall today thanks to cool temperatures across the state.  Here is a look at your highs:

Cooler Night Ahead - Isolated Shower Chance

September 8, 2012

Much cooler air has invaded into Central Indiana after our strong storm system on Friday. This resulted in highs in the low 70s across the state today and this gave us an early preview of late September temperatures. 

STRONG EVENING STORMS WITH HEAVY RAINS

September 7, 2012

Showers and thunderstorms will track into Central Indiana this evening as a cold front approaches from Illinois.  As of 6:30 PM, storms have already started in our northwestern counties. This line should be in our western counties starting at 7 PM.  And rain will finally make its way into the metro area from 8-9 PM.  There is still a chance for severe weather this evening primarily from Indianapolis and to the south.  This is also the area that the NWS has included in our Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 11 PM.

Tallying up Isaac Related Rain & More Coming Our Way

September 3, 2012

Happy Labor Day everyone! I hope you were able to enjoy your outdoor activities today because the forecast was more in our favor to be outside.  Only spotty showers developed today and our primary window of rain has been during the afternoon hours south of Indianapolis.  Isolated showers remain possible this evening across the state, but the majority of our rainfall should come to a close later on tonight. 

Rainfall turns light on Labor Day

September 3, 2012

Today marked Day 2 of the impact of Isaac remnants in Central Indiana.  We expected that rainfall would be more widespread and heavy today and that's what radar reflected throughout the day. The one portion of the state that has had to wait longer for any of the more consistent rains has been to the East.  But finally, during the afternoon hours, more rain bands made the journey east.  Here is a look at the Day 1 and Day 2 rainfall numbers combined:

Rains Associated with Isaac Continue Monday

September 1, 2012

The remnants from Isaac moved closer to Indiana today and it resulted in scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms mainly north of I-70.  There was a wide range in rainfall totals across the state.

Remnants of 'Isaac' move into Indiana

September 1, 2012

What’s in a name?  The storm that used to be called Isaac is set to bring moderate rain to the area through Labor Day.  At this point, it looks like the much needed rain will not be enough to end drought like conditions across the state.  It also looks unlikely that this will lead to too many flooding concerns.  Rain totals for Indianapolis will likely be between 1.5" to 2.5".  That’s way down from what it looked like we would see just 48 hours ago.

Latest on Hurricane Isaac and its impact on Central Indiana

August 29, 2012

Hurricane Isaac is still a strong storm impacting the gulf coast, especially Louisiana and Mississippi today.  As of 10 a.m., Isaac is a Category 1 hurricane with 75 mph winds.  Earlier this morning, Isaac had 80 mph sustained winds.  Now that the storm is over land, it will lose its energy source and start weakening. The storm should weaken back to Tropical Storm status later this afternoon-evening.  It will continue to weaken by Thursday night, becoming a tropical depression.

Tracking Hurricane Isaac

August 28, 2012

Isaac has now been upgraded to hurricane status as of 12:20 PM EDT Tuesday.  The hurricane is packing winds at 75 mph.  74 mph is the threshold to be considered a hurricane.  The central pressure has now fallen to 975 mph and the storm continues to move northwest at 10 mph towards Louisiana.

MONDAY RAINFALL AND ISAAC

August 27, 2012

Central Indiana has had a wet start to the day with soaking showers moving through the area.  The bulk of the heavy rainfall is coming to an end this morning as this stronger section of rain moves farther east in the state. 

STORMS ARRIVE OVERNIGHT

August 26, 2012

Temperatures were slightly cooler this afternoon, but it definitely didn't feel any better or more comfortable outside.  It was incredibly humid this afternoon as dew point temperatures rose into the mid to upper 60s.  Plenty of moisture has now moved into Central Indiana and it's only a matter of time until the cold front interacts with it to produce showers and thunderstorms.

SUNDAY OUTLOOK, MONDAY RAIN AND ISAAC

August 25, 2012

Central Indiana had another hot day with temperatures in the low 90s.  Indianapolis officially hit 92°F this afternoon.  Skies will be mostly clear but this will not result in cool overnight temperatures.  Dew points have slowly risen today and this will keep temperatures around 71°F here in the metro and closer to the 66-68° in the outlying areas overnight.

HOT WEEKEND & STORM CHANCES

August 24, 2012

We had another above normal temperature day in Central Indiana this afternoon.  Temperatures climbed back into the upper 80s and low 90s across the state.  The one good bit of news about the forecast is the fact that is wasn't terribly humid outside.  Temperatures will remain hot/warm throughout the evening hours. This will mean a summer-like evening for those Friday night football games.  Temperatures will start to drop off after sunset.

A weak trough is passing through Indiana on Monday, bringing in a small chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms

August 19, 2012

Today marked the 5th day this month that we've failed to reach 80°F!  It also gets added to the list of "below normal days" which is now up to 9 days so far in August.  The normal high this time of year is 84°F.

An upper level low and weak surface boundary will work together on Sunday to increase the cloud cover in Central Indiana and also bring in a small chance for rainfall.

August 18, 2012

It was a beautiful day in Central Indiana today!  Temperatures topped out in the mid to upper 70s across the state this afternoon.  The normal high for mid August is actually 84°F, so today's temperatures were considered "cool" for this time of year.

Despite rainfall and cooler temperatures, drought is still very real

August 15, 2012

Central Indiana has seen a wet start to the first half of August.  For some locations, this is the first time in months that rainfall totals have ended up above normal.  The most notable rainfall fell in the metro area where totals ranged from 4.20 inches to 5.30 inches this August.

Under clear skies tonight, temperatures will quickly fall back into the mid to low 50s by Sunday morning. This brings about unseasonably cool overnight temperatures.

August 11, 2012

Under clear skies tonight, temperatures will quickly fall back into the mid to low 50s by Sunday morning.  This brings about unseasonably cool overnight temperatures. We should normally bottom out around 65°F this time of year.

Temperatures were significantly cooler across Central Indiana this afternoon. Highs were below 80°F for most location and brought about fall like conditions.

August 10, 2012

Temperatures were significantly cooler across Central Indiana this afternoon. Highs were below 80°F for most locations and brought about fall like conditions.  Today was also the first day since June 2nd that we've been below the 80 degree mark.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for portions of Central Indiana. Large hail, damaging winds and heavy rainfall can be expected with the strongest storms.

August 9, 2012

Northwestern-Central Indiana is currently under a severe thunderstorm watch until 10 PM. Remember, though this is just a watch at any time a storm could initiate and become warned. A storm that is warned means it has strong winds or hail, which is also some of the threats that will be associated with storms this evening along with heavy rain.

Scattered storms will move into Central Indiana on Thursday. Be best chance for stronger/severe storms is later in the day.

August 8, 2012

Isolated showers and thunderstorms will continue in Central Indiana this evening and overnight.  But as the low pressure system starts to approach Thursday morning, storm chances and coverage will increase.  Scattered storms are possible in the morning as the warm front lifts up into Central Indiana.  This front will also usher in more moisture which will be crucial for storm redevelopment later in the day.

We will see a few more clouds start to move back in by early Wednesday morning and this is going to keep temperatures from falling into the low 60s.

August 7, 2012

We will see a few more clouds start to move back in by early Wednesday morning and this is going to keep temperatures from falling into the low 60s. Lows should actually end up closer to 68°F.  Temperatures will climb back into the low 90s for Wednesday afternoon but you will notice more clouds moving in throughout the day.  This is also a sign that moisture is starting to move back in to Central Indiana.

High pressure is still in place tonight and this will allow temperatures to fall quickly once again. Lows should end up in the upper 50s to low 60s

August 6, 2012

High pressure is still in place tonight and this will allow temperatures to fall quickly once again.  Lows should end up in the upper 50s to low 60s.  But the warmer overnight temperatures will be recorded in Indianapolis where the low will only reach 63°F. 

High pressure is moving in to Central Indiana and it will bring about a few sunny and rain free days.

August 5, 2012

High pressure is moving in to Central Indiana and it is already decreasing cloud cover significantly.  Skies will remain mostly clear tonight.  Dew points will continue to drop tonight as well and this will result in cool temperatures for Monday morning.  Lows will range from the upper 50s to low 60s.  With ample sunshine on Monday, temperatures will easily increase but we should stay below the 90 degree mark.  A northeast wind will be helping us out and that wind will drive in cooler and drier air.

A cold front will move through Central Indiana tonight producing showers and thunderstorms across the state.

August 4, 2012

A cold front will move through Central Indiana tonight producing showers and thunderstorms across the state.  Due to the potential for stronger storms, the Storm Prediction Center has included Central Indiana in a SLIGHT RISK of severe weather.  Our primary concerns tonight will be damaging wind gusts and 1" diameter hail.  The threat of tornado activity isn't very impressive but it can't be ruled out.

Welcome to the month of August! We will start the month with plenty of sunshine and even a full moon later tonight.

August 1, 2012

Welcome to the month of August!  We will start the month with plenty of sunshine and even a full moon later tonight.

After some early morning showers and thunderstorms, more storms are expected to develop this afternoon.

July 31, 2012

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for counties west and south of Indianapolis. 

A weak cold front is going to pass through Central Indiana this afternoon and it will producedisolated showers and thunderstorms.

July 31, 2012

A weak cold front is going to pass through Central Indiana this afternoon and it will produce isolated showers and thunderstorms. But before the front arrives, we will have to wait in the heat and humidity.  Temperatures will climb into the low to mid 90s this afternoon.  But dew points are still above 60°F so that "muggy" feeling is here and very present!

Yet another record has been broken this summer and this time it's related to the temperature.

July 29, 2012

Yet another record has been broken this summer and this time it's related to the temperature. Today marked the 26th day this month that we've hit 90° or higher.  The old record was 25 days during July of 1901.  This July will likely go down as the warmest month on record for Indianapolis.  What is also noteworthy is that we've already seen 41 days at 90° or higher this year!  To date, that is a record, but not the most ever in a full calendar year.  We'll have to see how many more 90° days we can accumulate.

The forecast is looking pleasant for the Brickyard 400 on Sunday. Temperatures will top out in the upper 80s and dew points will remain in a comfortable range.

July 28, 2012

We ended up with nice temperatures this afternoon and that resulted in a nearly perfect Saturday forecast to be outside.  Even the dew point was at or below 60°F which is typically something we consider pleasant.

Highs will top out around 100°F on Tuesday. When you add in the humidity, it will feel much warmer and oppressive outside.

July 16, 2012

A heat advisory has been issued for Tuesday because the extreme heat and humidity will make it dangerous to be outside for long periods of time once again.  The heat advisory includes all of our counties and is in effect from noon until 8 PM.

A geomagnetic storm started on Saturday night and is still going. Pending a decrease in cloud cover, Central Indiana could see the auroras later tonight.

July 15, 2012

After all the talk about the extreme heat and lack of water, let's change our focus for just a few moments to a different type of weather, space weather!

We will still see spotty showers overnight, especially north of I-70. Scattered showers and storms will still pop up on Sunday but there still isn't a guaranteed chance of rain.

July 14, 2012

The 90 degree streak is officially over here in Indianapolis.  But here's the kicker, we only missed by 1 degree!   Our 90 degree (or higher) temperature streak lasted 17 days in Indianapolis and this is the 4th longest on record.  The longest is from last year when we had 23 days in a row.  That stretch ended on August 8, 2011.

High pressure is moving in to Central Indiana and this will result in plenty of sunshine, near seasonal temps but still no rainfall.

July 9, 2012

Today marks the 13th day in a row that we've hit 90°F or higher here in Indianapolis.  But there was a difference in what it felt like outside compared to the rest of this long stretch of heat.  Dew points were considerably lower and this meant that a heat index did not exist this afternoon.  Dew points should remain in the mid 50s for the majority of the week.

Downburst packing 80 mph winds damages Johnson County

July 9, 2012

The BAM Chase Team based out of Greenwood, Ind. captured a downburst on camera Saturday night.

Scattered showers and storms will move through Central Indiana this afternoon and evening on the back side of the cold front. This is the same system that will break the heat wave in Central Indiana.

July 8, 2012

Scattered showers and thunderstorms have developed across Central Indiana.  Storms north of I-70 have been much weaker and well below severe criteria.  But storms in southern Indiana have tapped into more unstable air and are becoming severe.  Because of this, the NWS has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for our southern counties until 10 PM.  2" diameter hail and 70 mph winds will be possible with the stronger storms.  All storms are moving E/SE at 15-30 mph.

Family behind the Red Gold tomato dynasty takes Fox59 on a tour

July 5, 2012

If you see a plump red tomato growing in a field, there is a pretty good chance that it is going to end up at Indiana’s largest tomato cannery: Red Gold.

Temperatures will top out around 100°F for the rest of the week and this combined with high humidity levels will result in dangerous conditions outside.

July 3, 2012

Central Indiana is under an Excessive Heat Warning once again and this isn't a one day event.  This warning is in place until Saturday at 8 PM.  High temperatures should reach 100°F just about every day between now and then but when you combine in our high dew points, feels like temperatures will be even higher.  Heat indices should range from 100-110°F all week.

Upper 90 degree temperatures are expected throughout the entire week and this will just add insult to injury for our heat wave.

July 2, 2012

Central Indiana recorded temperatures in the mid to upper 90s again today. Indianapolis was 1 degree away from the record high temperature for this date. 

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue over the next few days thanks to a stationary front lying across Central Indiana.

June 30, 2012

June 2012 will likely go in the books at the driest June ever on record with only .14" of rain falling over the entire month.  Just to put this into prospective, 4.25" is the average amount of precipitation we see in a typical June.  Our dismal amount now beats the .36" of rain received in June of 1988.  But this is not the driest month ever for the year.  That record is still held by March of 1910 when a meager .07" of precipitation fell. 

A cold front will sweep through Central Indiana tonight producing some isolated showers and thunderstorms across the state.

June 24, 2012

A cold front will sweep through Central Indiana tonight producing some isolated showers and thunderstorms across the state.  But no one location has a guaranteed chance of rainfall in the overnight hours.  Central Indiana only has a 20-30% chance of rain overnight. Any showers that do pop up should stay below severe criteria and even our heavy showers should produce less than .20" of rainfall.

A weak cold front will pass through our northern counties late on Sunday producing some isolated showers. This is not a guaranteed chance for rain across Central Indiana once again.

June 23, 2012

Skies remain partly cloudy overnight and this will keep our temperature up a bit more tonight.  Lows should bottom out in the mid to upper 60s.  Partly cloudy conditions will be around again on Sunday but it will be a hot day.  Temperatures should top out in the low 90s.

High pressure is moving in to Central Indiana and this will ensure a dry start to the weekend but it won't keep the heat away.

June 22, 2012

High pressure is moving into Central Indiana and this will ensure a dry start to the weekend but it won't keep the heat away.  With ample sunshine tomorrow morning, temperatures will quickly climb.  It looks like we should hit the mid 80s on Saturday afternoon.  Moisture is trying to build out to our west tomorrow afternoon in Illinois but we do not anticipate any of this making it far into Central Indiana.  An isolated shower can't be ruled out along the state line, but that's about it. This area of rain will push more clouds into our area for the afternoon hours.

The cold front tonight brought some welcomed rain in the northern half of the area. But everyone will get to experience the cooler temperatures tomorrow.

June 21, 2012

The cold front brought some welcomed rain in the northern half of the area.  The highest rainfall total came from Jonesboro with 1/2" of rainfall.  There was little to no rain south of I-70.  Most locations south of I-70 remained dry with only a few spotty showers after 9 PM.

Today marked our third 90 degree or higher day in Central Indiana this week but Thursday will be the last day this week that it will be this warm before cooler air arrives.

June 20, 2012

Another rain-free day in Central Indiana leaves us 2.76” in the deficit column for the month of June.  This was also our 3^rd day in a row with 90+ temperatures.  For June alone, this was our 6^th 90+ day and this brings us up to a grand total of 9 for the year already.  By this time last year, we only had five 90+ days. 

Central Indiana will have another hot but not too humid day on Wednesday. Temperatures should increase to 94°F and this would make for the hottest day yet of the year.

June 19, 2012

Central Indiana will have another hot but not too humid day on Wednesday.  Temperatures should increase to 94°F and this would make for the hottest day yet of the year.  This will also mark the 5th 90+ day for the month of June.  The only positive thing about these hot and dry days is the comfort level.  Normally when it gets this hot, it's terribly humid.  The dew point level has been in the mid to low 60s this week and it will stay there again tomorrow.  This results in "feels like" temperatures in the mid to upper 90s.  If we had our normal humid airmass along with the heat, it would have felt above the 100 degree mark easily!

Central Indiana experienced temperatures above 90°F again today and the stretch of 90 degree heat will last through the majority of the work week.

June 18, 2012

Central Indiana experienced temperatures above 90°F again today and the stretch of 90 degree heat will last through the majority of the work week.  Another low pressure center will pass well to our north around the Great Lakes and this will put Central Indiana in a wedge of hot and humid air.  Highs should be in the mid to low 90s through Thursday. 

Central Indiana picked up sparce reports of showers and thunderstorms over the weekend.

June 17, 2012

Central Indiana picked up sparse reports of showers and thunderstorms over the weekend.  The Saturday storms proved to be rather potent, but only for a few isolated locations.  These storms popped up basically overhead and rained for over an hour.  Here are the largest rainfall reports:

Isolated storms popped up in Central Indiana this afternoon and evening but a larger mass of storms is still our to our west.

June 16, 2012

Isolated storms remain in Central Indiana as of 10:20 PM, but those storms are diminishing with every mile to the east.  But as you can see below, more showers and storms are heading our way from Illinois.  It looks like it will be after 2 AM before this line even makes it to the Illinois/Indiana state line.  But with this eastern progression again, it looks like the storms should weaken. But that doesn't mean we won't get some rainfall.  Western Indiana should get scattered showers and storms in the early morning hours.  Eastern Indiana has a smaller chance of rain in the overnight hours. Also, wide spread severe weather looks unlikely overnight.  Our strongest storms could pack some penny sized hail and 40 mph winds, but this is below severe criteria.

Here is a look at what is happening as of 4 PM in Central Indiana. This includes storm movement, main threats and rainfall potential.

June 16, 2012

Scattered showers and storms have developed in Central Indiana this afternoon as a result of our very unstable air mass and an approaching cold front.  The biggest cluster of storms is approaching Lafayette as of 4 PM this afternoon.  This area of storms is moving ENE at 20-30 mph.  The severe threat is still low today but this is the area that the Storm Prediction Center included in a "slight risk of severe weather" today.  What you will likely see is heavy to torrential downpours, frequent lightning and small hail. 

Central Indiana under an enhanced fire danger again on Wednesday

June 13, 2012

There is no rain in the forecast again Wednesday, and that means that we need to be careful not to start or spread fires in Central Indiana. 

Due to dry conditions and low humidity levels, Hoosiers are encouraged to refrain from burning anything outside today.

June 12, 2012

There is an enhanced risk of wild fire today in Central Indiana.  This means that a fire would grow and spread very quickly today.  

Isolated to scattered showers will start late tonight and early Monday morning. A cold front will move through Monday night keeping in the chance of rainfall.

June 10, 2012

Central Indiana had another hot day with highs at or near the 90 degree mark.  We were expecting that clouds would be a bit thicker this afternoon, thus keeping our temperatures down a little bit.  But the deck of clouds had a nice big hole in it and this allowed sunshine to make it to the surface and as a result, we jumped to 90°F quickly.  Clouds will continue to increase overnight as moisture continues to build up from the south.  Isolated showers are possible after 4 AM.  We will see scattered showers and isolated storms during the day Monday.  The best chance of rain comes in Monday evening/night as the cold front passes.

Dew point temperatures will increase on Sunday as more moisture builds into Central Indiana. Rainfall chances still don't start until late Sunday night into Monday morning.

June 9, 2012

We are in for another mild night in Central Indiana with comfortable temperatures.  Lows should only fall into the mid 60s overnight, which will be a little bit warmer than what we had this morning. 

Summer like temperatures are here just in time for the weekend and humidity will slowly climb throughout this time as well.

June 8, 2012

Summer like temperatures are here just in time for the weekend and humidity will slowly climb throughout this time as well.  High pressure will finally slide off to the east and this will allow winds to shift to the south.  This is basically opening the door to get the heat and humidity here.

We've enjoyed the benefit of cooler temperatures all week long but now the summer like heat and humidity is back.

June 7, 2012

Temperatures increased slightly again in Central Indiana this afternoon.  This put high temperatures about 1-2°F above normal for this time of year.  But it was still comfortable throughout the day without any oppressive humidity.  Thanks to a few spotty clouds overnight, temperatures won't fall as far in the overnight hours.

It isn't very often that we get to talk about a quiet weather pattern in the weather department. But this week we are expecting seasonal temperatures with little to no precipitation.

June 3, 2012

It isn't very often that we get to talk about a quiet weather pattern in the weather department.  But this week we are expecting seasonal temperatures with little to no precipitation.  The only exception is a short wave passing through tonight and another isolated chance for rain on Wednesday. 

Temperatures improved a few degrees today in Central Indiana but this still left us below normal for the start of June.

June 2, 2012

Temperatures improved a few degrees today in Central Indiana but this still left us below normal for the start of June.  Normal high temperatures for this time of year are around 78°F.  Today we only topped out at 72°F in Indianapolis.  This is the coolest it's been for June 2nd since 2005!  And even looking into the extended forecast, there isn't any impressive heat showing up to snap us back to summer.

After sweltering heat and high humidity, cooler air has finally returned to Central Indiana. And those hot temperatures don't look to return for quite a while.

May 29, 2012

Many in Central Indiana welcomed the morning showers and thunderstorms with a sigh of relief.  This was a much needed round of rainfall and the first soaking rain since early May.  But as you can see in the totals map below, the greatest amount of rain fell in the eastern half of the state.

It was another hot day in Central Indiana and the 3rd day in a row with a high at 90 or higher. But this heat wave is over!

May 28, 2012

It was another hot day in Central Indiana and the 3rd day in a row with a high at 90°F or higher.  But this heat wave is over!  Showers and thunderstorms will move in overnight with our cold front and this will mark the end of the hot weather. 

It's time to fire up the grill, jump in the pool and salute our troops. Yes, it's Memorial Day but the weather may not cooperate all day long.

May 27, 2012

The kick off to the summer season has arrived and Monday will be another hot and humid day in Central Indiana.  We will start the day with warm and muggy conditions in the morning with partly cloudy skies.  As for the temperature, we should easily climb back up to the 90 degree mark again, if not a touch higher.  Adding in the dew point temperature, we could have heat indices as high as 98°F.  I feel like a broken record but it's worth saying again, DRINK WATER!  If you are going to be spending time outside on Monday, make sure that you are staying well hydrated and off setting any alcohol consumption with water.

This early season heat wave will continue on Sunday resulting in temperatures in the mid 90s. This is going to create dangerous conditions for those at the 500 if you don't stay hydrated.

May 26, 2012

Central Indiana saw temperatures climb into the 90s today and this was just the start of the heat and humidity.  A warm front will still be well to our north tomorrow and this will keep Indiana in the hot and humid zone.    

Homeowners puzzled as water falls from tulip trees on sunny day

May 23, 2012

Reports have been coming in of trees raining on completely cloud-free days.  It is not due to moisture but instead, a nasty parasite.

Zip line obstacle course set to open soon at Eagle Creek Park

May 22, 2012

Fly through the trees of Eagle Creek Park just like an ape!

Purple corn turning heads around Central Indiana

May 21, 2012

The corn crop is already coming in this year but instead of being the traditional green, many fields have turned a brilliant purple. It's left many farmers scratching their heads.

Portions of the United States will see the annular eclipse but Central Indiana will not have the best view. But this event is still interesting and has many trying to see what they can from the Hoosier State.

May 20, 2012

Tonight marks the Annular Eclipse and people in a narrow band in the western U.S. will get to see an amazing show around 6:30 PDT.  But the moon isn't going to fully cover the sun.  The moon will actually appear smaller than the sun and this will create a "ring of fire" appearance in the sky.   Basically, light from the sun will create a ring around the moon.  But again, this is only going to be seen in a narrow path from Texas to California.

Sunday will be another hot and humid day but this will create instability by the afternoon. This means that Central Indiana could see some scattered showers pop up.

May 19, 2012

We are in for another mild evening in Central Indiana.  Temperatures should fall into the low 60s by Sunday morning creating comfortable conditions.

Overall, Central Indiana had great weather for the weekend with only isolated instances of showers. The weather will turn quiet, dry and warm as the week progresses.

May 13, 2012

Overall, Central Indiana had great weather for the weekend with only isolated instances of showers.  A stalled out boundary will continue to create some shower activity mainly north of I-70 this evening but rainfall activity should drop off after sunset.  We are still going to see plenty of clouds down to the southeast tonight, keeping temperatures warmer in that part of the viewing area while cloud cover drops off significantly to the northwest.  We will start Monday with this same setup but then clouds areawide should start to decrease by the afternoon.

A low pressure system to our south will keep around clouds for the overnight hours and into Sunday morning. But rain should stay to our southeast tonight.

May 12, 2012

A low pressure system to our south will keep around clouds for the overnight hours and into Sunday morning.  But rain should stay to our southeast tonight closer to the Ohio River.  The reason why it will be difficult for this rainfall to arrive is dry air at the surface and in the mid levels of the atmosphere.  This presence of dry air should keep us rain-free overnight but an isolated showers cannot be ruled out.

After a humid weekend, the cooler air has finally returned to Central Indiana.

May 8, 2012

Showers and thunderstorms on Monday afternoon signaled the end of our hot and humid weather.  Temperatures were noticeably cooler today and dew points were much lower.  This resulted in pleasant conditions across all of Central Indiana.  High temperatures topped out in the low 70s and this is normal for this time of year.  But if you look back at the beginning of the month, today is 1 of 2 days where we've had "normal" temperatures.  The rest of the month has been significantly above average.

Central Indiana is no longer included in the "slight risk" of severe weather this afternoon.

May 7, 2012

Central Indiana is no longer included in the "slight risk" of severe weather this afternoon and evening. The downgrade in status doesn't mean that we will get through the rest of the day rain free though.  Showers and thunderstorms are still likely to form this afternoon as some energy arrives from Illinois. 

Showers and thunderstorms developed in the northern half of the state this evening but those storms continue to weaken. Storms will redevelop on Monday.

May 6, 2012

Showers and thunderstorms developed in the northern half of the state this evening but those storms continued to weaken and have now ended.  But here's a picture from Benton County as those storms rolled in earlier tonight.

We will see the Super Moon tonight in Central Indiana. It's a full moon that will seem brighter and bigger.

May 5, 2012

You don't have to be a space nerd (self included) to enjoy the beatiful sight in the sky tonight.  We will get to witness a Super Moon.  Here's what it's all about.

Shelter from the Storm: How prepared are schools for severe weather

May 2, 2012

The sirens sound and everyone knows to take cover. But as the tornado that struck Henryville Junior Senior High school showed, every building, regardless of size, has its weak spots.   

Showers and thunderstorms will pass through Central Indiana overnight and Monday morning. But it's the storms that will reform Monday afternoon that have the potential to be severe.

April 29, 2012

Another area of low pressure will move through Central Indiana on Monday and this is going to bring in a few rounds of showers and thunderstorms.  We could see a few showers and storms to open the day but then there will be a window of drier weather and warmer temperatures.  It's in this time that the atmosphere will destabilize.  It looks like after 2 PM is our best chance for these storms to start developing along the cold front.  This will move from in during the mid to late afternoon hours.  After looking at a few weather models, this would put storms in Indianapolis any time between 4-7 PM. 

Today was just the beginning of what will become a stormy stretch of days in Central Indiana.

April 28, 2012

Today was just the beginning of what will become a stormy stretch of days in Central Indiana.

A warm front will move into Central Indiana tomorrow. This will help out in warming us up a little more and we will eventually see the support for storms.

April 24, 2012

Showers are popping up in the western part of the state along the warm front.  It doesn't look like it will lift any farther north tonight, so this will continue to keep the forecast dry for the majority of our area.   We will see more cloud cover to the west due to the warm front and less cloud cover the closer you get to Ohio.  Winds are finally slowing down this evening and that will result in nearly calm conditions near sunrise Wednesday morning.

We all know it's been windy in Central Indiana and this trend isn't over yet. A tight pressure gradient will lead to windy conditions again on Tuesday.

April 23, 2012

We all know it's been windy in Central Indiana and this trend isn't over yet.  A tight pressure gradient will lead to windy conditions again on Tuesday.  You can see those faint lines on the map below.  What is happening is that we are stuck between a low pressure system to the NE and to a high pressure system to the SW. 

Temperatures will take a healthy dip tonight as clouds finally decrease in Central Indiana.

April 22, 2012

A Freeze Warning is in effect from 4-8 AM for portions of Central Indiana.  It doesn't look like we'll see any frost in Indianapolis, but basically everyone north of the city has a chance for frost.  Conditions like this warrant covering up your plant beds and gardens for the overnight hours. 

Temperatures were only in the mid 50s today and this left Central Indiana well below normal for this time of year.

April 21, 2012

We had a cooler day here in Central Indiana after a passing cold front ushered in a new air mass. Highs only topped out in the mid 50s on average.  The highest temperatures were more to the west where the clouds broke up enough this afternoon to let in some sunshine.  But those of you who stayed under the thick deck of clouds were left with a "chill" in the air.  Today was 1 of 4 days this April with highs in the 50s.  The other 17 days this month have been much warmer and generally above normal.  The normal high this time of year is 63.4°F for Indianapolis.

After a nice stretch of warmer temperatures, Central Indiana is about to see a huge temperature shift. The weekend will be cooler with highs in the upper 50s.

April 20, 2012

We had warm, comfortable temperatures the last few days in Central Indiana.  But with a cold front coming through this evening, temperatures are about to take a tumble.  The cold front will produce rain showers and isolated thunderstorms as it passes this evening.  The main line of activity should be east of the city by 9 PM but light rain could linger here in Indianapolis as late at 10 PM.  Rain moves out of the state by 2 AM at the latest. 

Study leads some to believe Indiana should be added to Tornado Alley

April 16, 2012

A new study released by Corelogic in California last week showed Indiana has a high occurrence of tornadoes. Despite the study, Tornado alley isn't being expanded to include Central Indiana.

Storm chasers hit directly by Wichita tornado

April 16, 2012

The ingredients were perfect for a severe weather outbreak in the Plains on Saturday and this meant that storm chasers were out in full force. SWAT, a fox 59 chasing team, drove across Kansas following the storms but it’s what happened in Wichita that left their rattled and shaking.

Storm chasers hit directly by Wichita tornado

April 15, 2012

The ingredients were perfect for a severe weather outbreak in the Plains on Saturday and this meant that storm chasers were out in full force. SWAT, a fox 59 chasing team, drove across Kansas following the storms but it’s what happened in Wichita that left their rattled and shaking.

A thin line of showers and thunderstorms will move into Central Indiana after midnight tonight and will still be around for the morning drive in certain parts of the viewing area.

April 15, 2012

It was a warmer day here in Central Indiana but not recording breaking.  Temperatures went up quickly thanks to plenty of sunshine and a strong southern wind.

After a day of showers and storms, the chance for stormy weather isn't over yet. Showers will continue this evening.

April 14, 2012

Showers and thunderstorms rolled through Central Indiana today.  We stayed well below severe criteria, which was good news.  We also got some much needed rain during the day.  Here were some of the rainfall totals:

A new study suggests more of the Midwest be included in Tornado Alley and Indiana was included in this expansion of tornado risk.

April 11, 2012

Anyone who can call themselves a Hoosier knows that Indiana gets all forms of weather and severe storms are no exception.  Tornadoes, large hail and high winds are all severe weather elements that the state experiences each year.  These types of events can happen in any month of the year.

Homeowners and farmers worry about frost, freezing temperatures

April 11, 2012

Temperatures will fall below freezing again Wednesday night, which puts our plants at risk.

Fire related weather isn't something we hear a lot about in this part of the country, so here is a refresher for those interested about today's Red Flag Warning.

April 9, 2012

A Red Flag Warning has been issued in Central Illinois and parts of Northwest Indiana until 8 PM EDT today.  But what leads to one of these warnings being issued.  It takes a set up of a few crucial ingredients.

Yes, it is true. Temperatures are taking a much colder turn this week and we could see several nights with freezing temperatures.

April 8, 2012

After a beautiful Sunday forecast with loads of sunshine, it's time to check in with the weather and the huge change in temperatures this week.  Monday will still be pleasant with highs around 65°F but it is going to be a windy day.  Winds will be moving in from the northwest and this is going to move in much colder air.  During the afternoon hours, winds will be sustained at 15 to 25 mph, gusting closer to 30 mph. Monday night alone, temperatures should fall into the mid to upper 30s.  But that's just the beginning of this cold snap. 

A weak cold front is passing through the area tonight and will keep clouds around before the sun rises. But rainfall chances are pretty slim with this system.

April 7, 2012

After a beautiful Saturday forecast, a cold front will soon be passing through and it will bring a change to the weather.  The good news is, it won't be an instant change and the front is weak enough that we'll mainly see sprinkles overnight and into Sunday morning.

We all know that March was a very warm month and it is one that is now in the record books in several categories.

April 2, 2012

The heat was on in March.  But not the heat in our homes, instead it was the heat outside.  A good two week stretch of March felt more like June and this is extended period of heat is what resulted in all the records.

We will have numerous chances for showers and thunderstorms this week as a few short waves pass through Central Indiana. And due to this activity, you should expect some bigs peaks and valleys in our temperature forecast.

April 2, 2012

A warm front is expected to lift through the area overnight and into Tuesday morning.  Warm fronts naturally lift the air and can form storms.  It look like the best chance for storms in the overnight hours is in northern Illinois but we could also see some isolated storms closer to day break.  But once that front passes, temperatures will start climb. We should get into the upper 70s and low 80s by the afternoon.  The record high for Tuesday is 81°F set back in 2010.  We have a chance to break this record tomorrow as long as we see a good decrease in our cloud cover. 

We continue to monitor the potential for stronger storms this evening. It still looks like hail is the main threat with any storms that fire up tonight.

April 1, 2012

The cold front is still hanging out tonight in the northern part of our viewing area from Lafayette to Muncie.  We had one lone cell pop up closer to 6 PM near Lafayette but it briefly showed the potential for hail and then started to weaken. 

Most of the area started the day with showers and thunderstorms. The majority of this activity died down by 1 PM and the sun came out. But now we are setting up for another round of storms.

April 1, 2012

A good portion of Central Indiana had shower and thunderstorm activity this morning.  These storms moved out and weakened shortly after the noon hour. Since then the sun has been out and quickly warming us up.  What morning storms do is "cap" the atmosphere.  This cap basically keeps storms from firing up again as the day goes on.  But sunshine acts to decrease this "cap" in the atmosphere.  As of 4 PM, all of Central Indiana was capped and you can see the area I'm talking about in the picture below.  Everything that is blue is considered stable air and not favorable for storm development.  But even in the last 2 hours, those values are getting closer to 0 and after that point, CAPE will develop.  CAPE: Convective Available Potential Energy.  This is basically the explosiveness of the atmosphere and this is what is necessary to fire-up storms later today.  With all the sunshine and quickly rising temperature we should see values increasing to 1000 to 1500 joules of CAPE.  What this means is that we will more than likely have the support for storms later this afternoon and into the evening.

It's another spring day in Central Indiana and once again, we have to talk about the possibility of severe storms.

March 31, 2012

Good Evening!  Once again we have to talk about storms here in Central Indiana and as always, they could pack a punch.  First of all, lets break down the timing because there are two time frames to discuss. 

Showers and thunderstorms will pass through Central Indiana in the pre dawn hours. We could see some gusty thunderstorms in the morning.

March 27, 2012

Warmer and more moist air is finally moving in to Central Indiana this afternoon.  This will help set us up for showers and thunderstorms in the overnight hours.  As of 3:30 PM, the storms had actually diminished in Illinois.  With the resurgence of the low level jet after sunset, this will help these storms fire back up in advance of the cold front over in Illinois again.

Freezing temperatures are possible this week but many of you want to protect your plans through this snap. Here are some helpful tips.

March 25, 2012

Everywhere you look you notice that trees, flowers and shrubs are in bloom or growing.  Spring has started early this year but Mother Nature isn't ready to give up on cold temperatures just yet.  Winds have shifted to the north and this is going to drive in drier air.  Couple that with mostly clear conditions and you are talking about the perfect set up to allow temperatures to fall drastically!  We should stay well above the freezing mark tonight but temperatures will struggle to increase on Monday. Drier air will have arrived and winds will continue from the northeast during the day.  This should keep our high temperature below 60°F. 

Central Indiana has been spoiled with early summer-like temperatures. Now we are finally trending a bit cooler, but it's still warmer than what we should get this time of year.

March 24, 2012

This week really brought in weather that is unheard of this time of year.  We broke 4 records this week and 3 more the previous week.  Temperatures this warm in the month of March will likely not happen again in our lifetime.  The last time it was this warm was back in the late 1800s and 1930s. 

Evacuating schools in severe weather situations

March 21, 2012

On Tuesday, Fox59 looked at school hallways and just how safe they are in tornado warnings. 

The statewide tornado was actually not done today in 4 counties. This is the same area that was devastated by the EF 4 tornado on March 2.

March 21, 2012

The tornado sirens sounded at 10:15 AM today and students around the state practiced their tornado drill at school.  But of the 92 counties, 4 were allowed to continue their day without the drill or the sirens sounding.  That included Washington, Clark, Scott and Jefferson counties that opted out of the drill.  These are the same counties that were hit by the EF 4 tornado on March 2nd in the southern part of the state.  People in the area continue to clean up and rebuild their lives from the tornado. 

How safe is your school in the event of a tornado?

March 20, 2012

The month of March will be one Indianapolis will never forget due to the record-breaking heat, damaging hail and a rare EF-4 tornado that struck a southern Indiana town.

Another day of record breaking heat in Central Indiana and this marks the 4th record shattered in the last week.

March 18, 2012

Central Indiana has bounced ahead to June-like temperatures and the streak of warm weather isn't over.  Today, we set another record high of 80°F.  The previous record was 76°F and easily passed in the early afternoon hours.  Today also sets a new record for consecutive days at 70°F or warmer.  The old record was 6 days long in March but today we continued our 7 day stretch.  The 70°+ heat will continue this week so this record will have a few more days added to it!

Storms will likely pass through Central Indiana tonight. Severe weather is not anticipiated but we will get some small hail, heavy downpours and frequent lightning out of these storms.

March 17, 2012

An area of storms is moving through Central Indiana tonight and into early Sunday morning.  The main area is coming in from Illinois and should arrive to our western counties after 11 PM.  The main line of storms should arrive to Indianapolis after 1 AM.  But isolated storms ahead of this line could easily move through before that time.  Small hail, heavy downpours and frequent lightning are expected with any of these overnight storms.

We are coasting into another beautiful day and a wonderful weekend. Temperatures continue to trend but the record breaking warmth may just be above over.

March 16, 2012

The warm stretch of temperatures will continue as we go into the weekend and setting a few new records could easily happen.  We will continue to see hit or miss clouds overnight with isolated showers and thunderstorms.  But temperatures will stay mild overnight, only falling into the upper 50s and low 60s.  Temperatures will climb steadily on Saturday for St. Patrick's Day.  More than likely, we will set a new record.  The record is 76 F set back in 1894. 

After some passing storms to the north tonight, warm weather will set up for the rest of the week. This will result in temperatures 20-25°F above normal.

March 12, 2012

Central Indiana is basically jumping forward two months this week as we experience temperatures that are more typical in May.  The jet stream has shift far enough to the north to allow this warm air to set up shop for several days and bring about an odd weather pattern.  First of all, let's break down tonight.

Rain will move in after 10 PM and will be likely during the morning commute. We should also see some imbedded thunderstorms as this line moves through Central Indiana.

March 11, 2012

A low pressure system to the southwest is spreading moisture across Central Indiana tonight.  The first bands of rain should be approaching the state line around 10 PM and showers will continue to advance in overnight. We have a likely chance for rain showers basically through the entire morning drive.  We will have some embedded thunderstorms in this line as well.  The way things are looking right now, we shouldn't see severe weather out of this system.

The weekend begins with plenty of sunshine but cold temperatures. Temperatures will get a healthy boost this afternoon thanks to sunshine and a strong southern flow in our winds.

March 10, 2012

Good morning!  It might be cold out there this morning but temperatures will quickly climb today and get back up near, if not above normal.  We have a few things helping us out today. First of all, high pressure is overhead and this will keep our sky cloud-free throughout the day.  This same ridge of high pressure will also be shifting slightly east today and this will allow our wind to shift to the south and pick up.  This moves in more heat and moisture.  But don't worry about rain quite yet.  The moisture will actually help us out tonight by holding up the temperature.  Lows should only fall into the upper 30s for Sunday morning.

EF-3 tornado kills next door neighbors in Holton, Ind.

March 5, 2012

A line of storms dropped an EF-3 tornado in Ripley County Friday. It traveled nearly 11 miles, hitting the town of Holton, Ind. It's there that two Hoosiers lost their lives.

Storm chasers watch tornado destroy Henryville, Ind.

March 4, 2012

Many people have seen the video; a tornado destroying the town of Henryville, IN. But for one group of storm chasers, had a completely different view of the storm.

National Weather Service survey teams accessing the damage today estimate the tornado that struck Henryville as an EF 4 tornado.

March 3, 2012

The National Weather Service out of Louisville, KY sent out survey teams this morning to investigate the areas circled in red below.  We are already hearing from the Henryville area that the tornado was and EF 4 when it struck town on Friday.  Winds were estimated at 175 mph.

Meteorological winter ends with sunny skies, warm temperatures

February 29, 2012

Meteorological winter came to an end Wednesday as Indiana celebrated highs in the upper 60s. The consensus around the area, though, was that there really wasn't a winter to "end" this year.

A highly amplified low pressure system will move through our area in the next 36 hours. It brings in the potential for strong to severe storms on Wednesday.

February 28, 2012

After a lack-luster winter season, the spring severe weather season is getting an early start this week.  A highly amplified low pressure system will be coming out of the Rockies later today and will bring in the chance for severe storms in the southern Plains.  The area of greatest concern tonight and early Wednesday morning is northern Arkansas and possibly western Kentucky.  What's happening in this area is the lifting warm front ahead of the low pressure system.  Shearing in the low levels will be maximized along the warm front where some super cells could easily form.  It is within this line that tornadoes could form and continue to move ENE during early Wednesday.

A weak cold front will move through Monday morning but don't expect much noise from it. We will see a few clouds from it in the morning but that's about it.

February 26, 2012

Zonal flow will continue this week and this is going to bring in three low pressure systems.  The first one is set to arrive on Monday morning but it will only bring in a few clouds as it passes.  Winds will shift after it moves through and this will bring in a cooler flow for the afternoon.  So even with sunny skies, highs shouldn't be as warm as what we saw Sunday.

After a cold Saturday, temperatures will get a healthy boost on Sunday thanks to a strong southern wind.

February 25, 2012

Skies will remain clear overnight and this will allow temperatures to fall steadily.  The only thing helping us out overnight is a light surface wind.  This will continue to mix the lower part of the atmosphere and keep us out of the teens for early Sunday.  Here's a look at how the temperatures break down, hour by hour:

A 4.0 magnitude earthquake rattled parts of the Midwest this morning. The quake happened in the New Madrid Seismic Zone near the St. Louis area.

February 21, 2012

A 4.0 magnitude earthquake rattled parts of the Midwest this morning.  The epicenter of the earthquake was 5 miles southeast  of Bertrand, Missouri or 16 miles southwest of Cairo, Illinois.  It happened at 3:58 AM in that area, which was 4:58 AM EST.  The quake happened in the New Madrid Seismic Zone which has a long history of producing earthquakes in the Midwest. Below is a map showing the epicenter of the event.  The 4.0 quake brought "moderate" shaking those closest to the epicenter.

Warmer than normal temperatures continue this winter and this will put Indiana in the record books.

February 20, 2012

We've been saying it all winter long, but this has been one warm and mild winter in Central Indiana. We dove into the weather stats for the last 10 years and found a few interesting things when looking at the winter season as a whole.

A ridge of high pressure will ensure sunshine again on Monday. But this will give way to cloud cover Monday night and rainfall Tuesday morning.

February 19, 2012

Central Indiana saw a mix of sun and clouds today.  Temperatures were still on the cool side as the ridge of high pressure brought in northeast winds.  Under clear skies tonight, temperatures will fall into the mid to low 20s by early Monday morning.  Luckily, the wind won't be terribly high so wind chill values shouldn't fall below the 20 degree mark.

A low pressure system will move to our south tonight but it will be far enough away to keep snowfall out of the forecast.

February 18, 2012

Clouds continue to move through Central Indiana this evening due to rain activity to the south.  The actual low pressure center will pass well to our south overnight.  Normally, southern passing low pressure systems can bring about snowfall as it tracks through Kentucky, but this system should stay closer to the gulf coast states. This means clouds for us tonight but no precip.

An area of low pressure spread snow across Central Indiana this morning, resulting in snowfall accumulations from 1-2".

February 14, 2012

Central Indiana picked up some light snow this morning as another minor low pressure system moved through. For the season, we still haven't had a major snow storm.  Indianapolis has officially recorded 9.2" of snow for the season.  Last year, 33.5" of snow had fallen by this date.  The normal value of snow by this date is 20"of snow.

Snowfall will move back into Central Indiana on Monday toward the end of the evening commute. The very start of the snow could be combined with a little rain as well thanks to temperatures hovering near the freezing mark.

February 12, 2012

Temperatures will fall into the teens again tonight but it won't feel as cold as it did Sunday morning.  This is due to the wind slowing down to around 5-7 mph for most of the night.  Temperatures should climb into the mid 30's on Monday but when you factor in a wind from the west at 10-15 mph, it will feel colder.  Here's what it should feel like hour by hour tomorrow.

Temperatures have felt below 10°F all day long and the wind chill will get worse overnight. Skies will be clear, so that will allow our temperature to fall into the single digits.

February 11, 2012

Today proved to be a cold day in Central Indiana.  Temperatures only reached the low 20's this afternoon but it never felt like that.  Wind chill values were below 10°F all day long.  Temperatures will continue to drop overnight as more polar air moves into the area thanks to high pressure.  As you can see from the map below, the wind direction continues to support the movement of cold air.  This wind will also continue that lake effect snow that has been going on all day in the northern part of the state.

Spring-like temperatures trick plants into sprouting early

February 7, 2012

Traditionally during this time of year there is snow under our feet. This year, though, it's the sound of leaves crunching beneath our feet instead of fresh snow.

Each moon gets its own special name, but the inspiration behind the name of the moon this month just doesn't match up with the winter we've experienced.

February 6, 2012

Hello to my star gazing friends!  Tuesday marks the February full moon, but the name given to the moon just doesn't sync up this month.

It's finally here, Super Bowl 46! We could wake up early Sunday morning to a few wet snowflakes but then clouds will decrease and we will have a dry afternoon.

February 4, 2012

After a week of wonderful temperatures, cooler air finally arrived.  The damp and chilly conditions will continue overnight with sprinkles. Temperatures by the early morning hours should dip down to the freezing mark.  We shouldn't see a lot of precipitation on the radar to start the day, but if there is any left, it will be in the form of a wet snowflake.  Clouds will decrease during the day, revealing mostly sunny skies by the afternoon.

Rain should arrive to Central Indiana between 8-10 PM this evening. Showers will start light and increase in intensity by Saturday morning. Rain should be widespread through the noon hour and then the chance decreases by Saturday evening.

February 3, 2012

We almost managed to get through this entire week rain free, but eventually something had to come through Central Indiana.  Luckily, temperatures will be warm enough here in the Circle City to keep this precipitation liquid.  Light rain showers should start moving in between 8-10 PM.  Rainfall becomes likely after midnight.

We've had a wonderful week of warm temperatures in Central Indiana. The streak continues tomorrow with highs in the low 50's again. But the weekend will bring in cooler temps and rainfall.

February 2, 2012

I'm going to sound like a broken record again, but it was ANOTHER beautiful day in Central Indiana.  It's still hard to believe that it's February 2nd.  Skies remain mostly clear again tonight and this will allow the temperature to fall into the low 30s again.  Temperatures will be warmer aloft so this should produce patchy to dense for Friday morning outside of the city.  Clouds will increase throughout the day Friday as a low pressure system approaches from the southwest.  This will be a slow moving system.  Notice rainfall chances really start to pop up after 10 PM for most of the state Friday.

BLOOMING BULBS... WHAT TO DO!

February 1, 2012

Little green shoots are popping up in flowers beds across Central Indiana thanks to this warm stretch of weather but this has left Hoosiers wondering what to do.  Do you cover them?  Do you let nature take its course?

Season confusion continues today as we see temperatures that are more common in the beginning of April. Most of the area had calm conditions and spotty clouds.

February 1, 2012

It was another beautiful day in Central Indiana.  Temperatures increased to the mid to upper 50s and the light winds made those temperatures even more enjoyable.  Here's a snapshot of the wind speeds as of 3 PM today.  This is obviously a huge change compared to the windy conditions over the last 3 days.

Unseasonably high temperatures prompt more to enjoy Super Bowl Village

January 31, 2012

Normally, the first week of February is one we'd rather forget.  Many are having winter amnesia thanks to the warm temperatures.

We will end the last day of January with a high of 61 F and the warm streak isn't over. A weak cold front passes tonight and it will bring in lights showers and clouds.

January 31, 2012

January is coming to a close and we were able to enjoy yet another day of spring-like temperatures.  The official high temperature from the NWS was 61°F for Indianapolis at 1:02 PM EST and that makes it the 4th warmest temperature on record on this date.  The record from 1917 still stands as the warmest with a high of 66°F.

We had a fantastic start to the workweek as temperatures raced above the 50° mark. The warming trend isn't over yet as highs will go above 60°F Tuesday.

January 30, 2012

We had unseasonably warm temperatures to start to the workweek and this is going to make for a memorable end to the month of January.  Temperatures normally come in around 36°F at the end of January.  Today alone, we were 20°F above normal and the deal is going to get even better tomorrow.

Winds die down briefly tonight but we expect winds to pick up again on Monday and Tuesday. Winds will be coming in from the south and this is going to move in a lot of warm air, resulting in spring like warmth.

January 29, 2012

It was another breezy day here in Central Indiana.  The pressure gradient continued to be tightly packed and that resulted in peak wind gusts at 30 mph and higher.  Here's a look at the peak wind speeds from the major recording stations:

A weak clipper system will pass on Sunday keeping in a lot of cloud cover and bringing in a few flurries.

January 28, 2012

Another clipper system will move through on Sunday but the bulk of snow associated with this system should only fall in Southern Michigan and extreme Northern Indiana.  We could end up seeing some flurries late Sunday morning and in the early afternoon, but that should be about it with this clipper system.  But I will note, the models have been all over the board with this system timing wise, so some adjustments may need to be made in the timing early Sunday morning.  Today alone the timing went from overnight tonight and got pushed back to the time frame I discussed.

A strong CME storm hit the planet today and it should be enough to produce some auroras tonight in the northern part of the nation.

January 24, 2012

**9 PM UPDATE** The Kp value has now fallen to 3, which means no auroras can be seen.  Spaceweather.com lists the CME storm as subsiding.  This means the Kp value should not increase any more tonight, thus ending the chance for auroral activity.

Last week we had storms, snow and ice and now it's time for storms once again. Storms should arrive early Monday morning and there is a chance that we could see some severe storms again.

January 21, 2012

Dear Mother Nature,

The early morning storms on January 17th mainly brought minor wind damage and standing water to Central Indiana. But in the extreme southern part of the state, 3 tornadoes touched down briefly.

January 18, 2012

Storms moved through Central Indiana in the early morning hours on Tuesday, January 17th.  In our viewing area, wind damage, high wind gusts and flash flooding reports were received from the National Weather Service.  But just a bit farther to the south closer to the Kentucky state line, 4 weak tornadoes touched down.  Here's a summary of those events from the National Weather Service in Louisville.

Central Indiana wakes up to severe storms Tuesday

January 17, 2012

Central Indiana isn't immune to severe weather this time of year and Monday night it became evident that storms would develop in the early morning hours. That ended up creating a spring-like event on a traditionally cold day.

Temperatures should hold nearly steady overnight and steadily increase throughout the day Monday. The strong southern push will actually keep temperatures increasing up through midnight.

January 15, 2012

Skies should remain mostly clear overnight and normally this would allow our temperature to fall pretty quickly, but the set up is a little different tonight.  We have a steady wind coming in from the south and that is bringing in enough warm air to keep the temperature nearly steady overnight.  It's this same wind flow that will keep temperatures increasing all day tomorrow, even after sunset.  The wind will also transport in more moisture.  We'll see some isolated showers after lunchtime and then scattered showers during the evening drive.  But it's after 10 PM that we have the best chance for widespread rainfall and that continues into Tuesday morning.  Central Indiana could easily pick up 1" of rain out of this system, especially in locations south of I-70. 

Expect a pretty active week here in Central Indiana and it all begins Monday. Our first series of low pressure systems comes in as we start the week and falling temperatures will bring in a wintry mix Tuesday.

January 14, 2012

The upper atmospheric pattern is officially "wavy" across the nation and this is going to mean an active and interesting week in Central Indiana.

Committee prepares for cold weather at Super Bowl XLVI

January 13, 2012

Recent cold days remind us that winter is here and we could easily be braving conditions like this during the Super Bowl.

New system gives color codes for conditions of county roads

January 11, 2012

Before hitting the county roads last year, Hoosiers could look up road conditions before leaving and were met with distinctions like Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 to describe roads.  However, there was a problem according to Arvin Copeland, director of Response & Recovery at Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

What happened to winter weather?

January 11, 2012

It is common to see snow, ice and dreary days in Central Indiana during the winter, but this year, that just is not the case.

We will once again be spoiled by above average temperatures here in Central Indiana as we start off the workweek. We could easily break the 50 degree mark before Wednesday.

January 8, 2012

It's almost like it's too good to be true... another stretch of unseasonably warm weather with no real heavy snow chances in sight.  But it is our reality and we will continue to be spoiled by the warmth for the next 48 hours.  And it won't just be warm, it will also be sunny, another rarity for January.  Traditionally, January is one of the more cloudy months of the year and is often the source of the "winter blues" because of the lack of sunlight and short days.

It's still hard to believe that it is January here in Indiana. Temperatures were well above average again to start the weekend and this warm spell isn't over yet.

January 7, 2012

January is traditionally cloudy, cold and snowy.  But I don't think you can use any of those words to describe the start to our weekend, let alone the last few weeks.  We had another well above average day as temperatures increased into the upper 40s.  A weak cold front passed through this morning and it shifted our winds to the North/Northwest. Normally, I would be worried about a blast of cold air coming in because of the wind direction, but the winds are light.  The wind just isn't strong enough to move in anything terribly cold.  We are also seeing an increase in clouds and that will also help out our temperature overnight.  We should only fall into the upper 20s. 

Winter weather finally arrives for anxious skiers at Paoli Peaks

January 3, 2012

It's been two long weeks of waiting... and waiting for Paoli Peaks to open for the winter season. High temperatures have kept skiers off of the slopes for a record amount of time.

We really haven't seen any impressive snowfall reports throughout the day, but the big issue has been white out conditions and slick spots on the roads

January 2, 2012

Expect slick spots on area roads throughout the next 24 hours in Central Indiana.  The best road conditions were found today on surfaces that were treated with some sort of melting agent (like rock salt). But if roads were left untreated, snow was able to blow and drift freely throughout the day.  Plus, add in cars compacting that snow on the road, slick spots easily developed.  Some of the worst conditions were on country roads.  As for snowfall amounts, most locations around Central Indiana are reporting less a 1/2" of snowfall.

Don't expect a super active pattern over the next 7 days, but there is one window for some light snowfall. Other than that, the main discussion is around temperatures and just how cold they will get.

January 1, 2012

First of all, Happy New Year everyone!  We welcomed the New Year with high winds across all of Central Indiana.  Wind gusts were recorded at 45 mph in many locations and we even had a report up to 52 mph in West Lafayette. This tight pressure gradient that resulted in the high winds will start to weaken overnight and this will allow the winds to slow down enough to get us out of the Advisory criteria.  But don't be fooled, it will still be windy overnight and Monday.

A wind advisory has been issued by the NWS and will go in effect Sunday morning at 4 AM for the western part of the state and at 7 AM for the rest of the area. Winds will be sustained from the west at 40 mph throughout most of the day with gusts up to 50 mph.

December 31, 2011

We anticipated that Sunday would be a breezy day, but the latest model runs are supporting very high winds across the Hoosier state.  Because of this, the NWS has issued a WIND ADVISORY starting Sunday at 7 AM and continuing until 7 PM.  A HIGH WIND WATCH is also in effect on Sunday for the northern part of the state for the same time frame.  Our viewing area counties for the High Wind Watch include: Miami,Grant, Blackford & Jay.  The rest of Central Indiana is included in the advisory which is shaded light tan in the picture provided.

We ended this shortened work week with dreary conditions across the Hoosier state. On and off showers pass through all day and those showers will start to diminish this evening. Temperatures remain warm for the last day of the year but colder air will soon arrive.

December 30, 2011

Light rain continues to fall this evening and scattered showers will continue until about 4 AM.   After that time, the majority of the rainfall will move far enough to the east to finally get out of here.  Clouds will decrease on Saturday and thanks to the cold front being on the weak side, temperatures won't be too much cooler.  Highs should once again be in the upper 40's.  A few towns could hit the 50 degree mark.  Temperatures will continue to be mild for New Year's Eve festivities.  Temperatures should be in the low 40 for most of the night.

Zonal flow continue in Central Indiana and this will allow a few clipper systems to pass by before the New Year. The first one arrives tomorrow morning and with it some light rain. The best chance for rain will remain in the northern part of the viewing area.

December 29, 2011

Zonal flow continues to be in place in the upper levels in Central Indiana and this will allow a few low pressure systems to pass in the next few days.  The first one passed this morning and it's moving out east already.  With the departure, clouds quickly moved out and temperatures bounced back to 50 F in most locations this afternoon.  But clouds will move back in later tonight, especially after midnight, as yet another shortwave system moves in to Central Indiana.  This one has a better chance of precipitation with it, but even that chance isn't terribly great.  Most locations south of I-70 should remain dry. Locations north of I-70 will see some isolated showers in the overnight hours and that chance remain throughout the day Friday.  But our precip should remain liquid as temperatures will be warm overnight.

A clipper system will pass by later tonight and this is keeping in a lot of cloud cover. This, coupled with a southwest wind, will result in near steady temperatures. But snow shouldn't be an issue with the clipper system. We might see a few flurries to our extreme northern locations.

December 28, 2011

We actually had a quiet day today in the world of weather, which was nice after that slick Tuesday.  Clouds decreased at points during the day, revealing some rays of sunshine.  Our temperatures came in around normal for this time of year in the mid 30s.  Cloud cover will increase once again overnight and this is going to result in near steady temperatures in the low 30s. 

The start to our winter season has been pretty quiet in Central Indiana. We've only had one event that has brought some light snow and that was before winter officially began. But it looks like our Tuesday system could bring in some light snow.

December 25, 2011

Good evening and Merry Christmas everyone.  I hope that you had a wonderful day!  The weather was unseasonably warm for this time of year, but it was rather windy.  Central Indiana recorded winds gusts in the 30s today.  Skies stay clear tonight as the weak surface feature that increased the winds departs to the east.  We'll start your Monday forecast with beautiful sunshine and then clouds will increase late in the afternoon and especially after sunset.

Santa will have an easy flight as he drops off presents for girls and boys across Central Indiana. Winds should be light tonight and skies will be clear. It's after Santa's journey that winds will start to pick up in Central Indiana.

December 24, 2011

No bumpy flight for Santa as he passes through Central Indiana tonight!  Skies will be clear and winds will be coming in lightly from the southwest.  And even though there is no snow for Santa's reindeer and sleigh to land on tonight, we hear from the North Pole that he can manage the landing just fine!  Speaking of the lack of snow, this year will add another snow-less Christmas to the record books.  As you can see in the graphic off to the left, in the last 11 years, we've had only 4 white Christmas forecasts. 

Yes, rain will continue again tonight but don't expect to see a huge mass of rain covering the radar. Central Indiana should mainly see spotty showers overnight and only light amounts of rain accumulating by morning. Temperatures will steadily increase overnight.

December 20, 2011

Talk about a dreary and miserable day in Central Indiana.  If it wasn't raining, it was still overcast.  The one good thing about the forecast was the temperature.  We remained above average once again. Most locations hit the mid to upper 40s.  The only exception was the very northern part of our viewing area where temperatures stayed a bit colder throughout the day due to the placement of the cold front.

Light showers will continue in Central Indiana tonight and throughout the day Tuesday. Shower chances remain on Wednesday but it shouldn't dominate the entire day, especially with only a 20% probability.

December 19, 2011

Light rainfall moved into the state this afternoon and showers will continue throughout the night.  1/4 to 1/2" of rainfall is possible and this will basically maintain the river flooding that has been happening for a few weeks now, but river levels shouldn't see any large increases.  Spotty showers will continue on Tuesday with an additional 1/4" of rain possible area wide.  It will also be another cloudy and dreary day, but still warm. 

After a few dry days, rainfall is set to move back in and hang around for the first half of the workweek, but no real snowfall chances with this system.

December 18, 2011

Let's start with the good news tonight. For those of you who aren't big fans of colder weather, you are going to enjoy the next few days.  Winds will continue to push in warm air up until Wednesday and this will leave our daytime high temperatures at least 10 degrees above normal for this time of year.  But here is the other side of these next few days...it's going to be dreary and rainy!

Clouds will exit Central Indiana tonight to reveal sunshine on Sunday. But by 10 PM Sunday evening, clouds will move in once again as we get ready for a few cloudy, rainy days.

December 17, 2011

Central Indiana had a rather cloudy Saturday forecast.  That deck of clouds is finally moving out after 10 PM tonight and we should wake up to plenty of sunshine Sunday morning.  We will also experience a southern wind once again and this will result in above average temperatures.  So, all in all, the Sunday forecast is looking pretty nice.  Clouds will start to roll back in Sunday night and especially into Monday morning. Fox Futurecast has clouds definitely in by 7 AM and hanging around for a good portion of the day.  This is actually a cold front boundary moving in but it isn't moving very fast. It will act an area of lift throughout the day and produce some light, spotty showers. Then the cold front will stall out in Central Indiana for Tuesday and Wednesday, keeping in the cloud cover and occasional rainfall chances.  Tuesday we have the highest probability of steady showers and measurable rainfall.  Monday and Wednesday aren't as favorable.  The good news is, we should be on the warm side of the front for the majority of this time and this means that our temperature will stay above normal Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  But this also keeps out the chance for snowfall which is a bummer for those wanting snow by Christmas.   Right now, the current forecast leading up to Christmas is NOT favorable for measurable snowfall at any time. Sorry!  I hate to be the messanger! 

Temperatures should be steady throughout the rest of the night if not increasing slightly after midnight. Rain showers will also arrive after 10 PM and continue overnight. But the main focus is north of I-70 tonight.

December 13, 2011

A thick deck of clouds has been hanging around Central Indiana all day long but widespread rainfall is yet to move in locally.  The warm front is still lifting through tonight and this will start a better chance for showers after 9 PM.  But don't expect any strong storms out of tonight's activity.  We'll mainly see light to moderate showers after midnight and through 6 AM Wednesday.  But this will be north of I-70 and .25 to .5" of rain could accumulate.  For those of you south of I-70, just expect an occasional shower or drizzle with only trace amounts of rain by the morning. 

Central Indiana will get to enjoy mild temperatures for a few more days. Just keep in mind, during the warmest temperatures, we'll also see some rain showers across the state.

December 12, 2011

Temperatures will continue to go above normal for the next few days here in Central Indiana.  The warm spell is due to a low pressure system that is approaching from the southwest.  The warm front ahead of it lifts through Central Indiana Tuesday afternoon and that just helps with the warming trend.  But this is also an area of isentrophic lift and we will get some rain activity from it.  Expect isolated showers to move in from 4-7 PM.  The best chance for rain will be in the overnight hours. The main focus of rainfall will be in the northern part of the state Wednesday morning, so many of us should have a dry commute to start the day. What we have to wait for next is the cold front that is associated with this same surface low. It really won't start to make it's way in until Wednesday night and Thursday morning, so a good portion of the day Wednesday could easily be dry and warm.  Just don't expect to see perfectly clear conditions as clouds should dominate the sky.  It looks like showers are likely Thursday morning and then our chance tapers off by the mid afternoon.  Cold air drives in behind the system to take temperatures back down to 40 F for daytime highs, but that is pretty normal for this time of year.  The weekend looks nice and dry with just some hit or miss clouds.

Anytime you can talk about above normal temperatures in December, it has to be a good thing. But warm weather in December doesn't always mean you can get outside and enjoy it. Rain will return this week with the warmth before temperatures slide again.

December 11, 2011

Buckle up!  The roller coaster leaves the platform in 3...2...1!

The first cold snap of the year always has us shaking in our boots and wishing it was warmer outside. But after a little digging, I found out that it could be worse and actually was last year.

December 10, 2011

We can all agree... it was cold out this morning!  The image above includes the low temperatures in Central Indiana.  This was the coldest night of the season and it was the coldest we've been since February 11th.  That morning we went down to 14 F in Indianapolis.  Temperatures will plummet again tonight, but probably not as far.  The wind is actually shifting after midnight and this will bring back a southern wind and some more moisture.  Now we aren't talking about enough moisture to produce any precipitation, but it is enough to hold up the temperature a few more degrees tonight.  Lows should range from 18-21 F by early Sunday morning.  The coldest temperatures will be in the northeastern part of the state.

Yes, holiday songs are stuck in my head tonight, but really, it's going to get cold outside! Canadian air dives in on the tail end of our snow activity today and temperatures will dip into the teens.

December 9, 2011

It was another cloud day here in Central Indiana and some of you saw some snow and flurry activity.  But there weren't a lot of locations that picked up much measurable snow.  Here are some of the local reports:

Expect steady showers overnight and Monday morning, especially if you are along I-70 and farther south. This portion of the viewing area could easily accumulate 1.5 to 2.5" of rainfall.

December 4, 2011

Central Indiana is in for one soggy forecast and even some flooding issues.  Let's break down what's happening in the atmosphere and then I'll go into flood concerns.

After soaking rains last week, Central Indiana is in for another round of heavy rain and more river flooding.

December 3, 2011

The official snowfall numbers are in from the National Weather Service. We are also dealing with some cold air moving in tonight for a cold start to our Thursday forecast.

November 30, 2011

Here are just some of the reports that came in Tuesday afternoon and evening across Central Indiana. These are NOT official numbers from the National Weather Service, but a combination of NWS reports, spotters and viewers.

November 29, 2011

Here are just some of the reports that came in Tuesday afternoon and evening across Central Indiana. These are NOT official numbers from the National Weather Service, but a combination of NWS reports, spotters and viewers.  Official numbers will become available Wednesday.

A low pressure system continue to move to the north tonight and that keeps in our chance for rainfall. Temperatures should remain warm enough to keep our precipitation liquid.

November 28, 2011

National Weather Service issues flood watch

November 28, 2011

The National Weather Service has issued a statement regarding potential river flooding by Thursday, especially along the Wabash River in Lafayette.

Rain showers will continue the next 2 days, resulting in some dreary weather in Central Indiana. But as cold air dives in, it could change over our precip to a rain/snow mix by Tuesday night as the low pressure center finally starts to move away.

November 27, 2011

A cold front passes through Central Indiana by early Sunday morning and this will start our rainfall, but an upper level low develops on the tail end of this and it will continue our chance for rain well into Tuesday.

November 26, 2011

Well, I hope you enjoyed the mild and dry weather over Thanksgiving, because the weather pattern is about to shift.  We have a few things to contend with the next few days.  1. Soaking Rains.  2. Falling Temperatures.  3. Flurries.

From your Weather Authority, we hope everyone has a nice Thanksgiving and travels safely.

November 23, 2011

The holiday season is now in full swing as Americans take to the roads and to the skies to reach their destination.  Here's what we are looking at in the Ohio Valley over the next few days.

Light rain showers end by 2 AM tonight and then much cooler air will start to move in by Wednesday morning. Clouds will finally decrease on Wednesday which means we'll finally see some sunshine.

November 22, 2011

When comparing the Thanksgiving Forecast from last year to this year, we are really lucking out here in Central Indiana.

November 21, 2011

Turkey day is now within reach and many of us will be loading up the family in our car to head to the big feast.  And it looks like we are really lucking out in the weather department.  First, let's look back at what happened last year.

A stationary boundary is now set up across Central Indiana. This will keep in the chance for rainfall overnight, but mainly south of I-70.

November 20, 2011

Temperatures fell throughout the day today and this was due to a slow moving cold front that passed through the area early this morning. We actually started the day with temperatures near 60 F and by 6 PM, temperatures were only in the upper 40s.  The front that brought in the rain has now stalled out and will help keep in the chance for isolated rainfall overnight.  But the best area for even those isolated showers to develop is mainly south of I-70 on the warmer side of the boundary.  Monday will remain dreary.  Expect to see a few isolated showers during the day but not constant showers throughout the day. The next best chance for rain is Tuesday.  That's when another round of low pressure starts to move in and brings a likely chance of rainfall and even isolated storms. The Storm Prediction Center even has a chance for severe weather with this system, but the outlook put out on Sunday has that risk area starting at the Ohio River and going south.  We will continue to monitor this system and if the risk area changes, we'll be sure to let you know.

A slow moving cold front will move into Central Indiana by Sunday morning. This will lead to some light showers and clouds will still hang around Central Indiana.

November 19, 2011

A weak cold front will move through Central Indiana on Sunday morning.  This boundary will lift the atmosphere but there just isn't a ton of moisture to tap into locally.  This means that if it does produce some rain showers, the rain will be light and only provide small accumulations.  The rainfall coverage won't blanket the area, but instead, will be more spotty.  This same boundary should stall out along the Ohio River later Sunday afternoon and stay in that position for a few days.  Luckily, temperatures won't fall drastically on the back side of the front and will actually remain seasonal for a few days with highs in the mid 50s.  But since the front is hanging around, clouds will also linger in Central Indiana.  A few areas of low pressure will follow along the stationary front and that will bring in a few more rainfall chances on Monday and Tuesday, but Tuesday is really the best chance with about an 80% chance that we'll see showers.  For those looking ahead to Thanksgiving related travel, Wednesday's forecast will be dry but colder.  Thanksgiving day will also be dry with mostly sunny skies and near normal temperatures.

Monday's round of severe weather brought up a good question, how rare are tornadoes in November? Here's a look at Indiana's tornado stats for the month of November and why we even get storms this time of year

November 15, 2011

In the month of November we are typically thinking of cool, fall-like days and where we are going for Thanksgiving.  Severe weather is something that typically doesn't comes to mind.  But as we learned on Monday, November 15th, severe weather can happen during this month and even tornadoes can form. 

Paoli hit by EF-1 tornado, sustains heavy damage Monday

November 15, 2011

An EF-1 tornado struck Paoli, Ind. Monday evening, causing heavy damage throughout the city. 

Heavy rain and high winds move into the circle city as we enter the early evening hours.

November 14, 2011

Storms are moving into Indianapolis during the 6 PM hour.  Heavy rain, pea sized hail and some gusty winds are expected as the storm passes the circle city. 

Storms continue to fire up in Central Indiana, some with rotation and a few producing small hail stones.

November 14, 2011

We continue to track storms on Live Guardian Radar tonight and will continue to have the latest information LIVE on Fox 59.   But here's a more in-depth look at the setup at this hour:

We continue to monitor the severe weather potential this afternoon. The Storm Prediction Center just issued a Tornado Watch for all of Central Indiana until 9 PM.

November 14, 2011

The Storm Prediction Center issued a Tornado Watch for all of Central Indiana until 9 PM tonight.  Storms are just now starting to pop up in Illinois and those will move quickly into our area this afternoon.  At the current time, CAPE values have increase enough to keep storms going as they get into Indiana.  It looks like supercells could easily develop in the current environment.  Those supercells will possibly support tornado development, especially with the shearing that is happening in the atmosphere (turning of the wind in the vertical).  Stay tuned to Fox 59 during the day for the latest information regarding storms and locations in the path of these storms.

A current analysis of the atmosphere at 11 AM and how things are still shaping up for this afternoons thunderstorm threat.

November 14, 2011

There is a slight risk of severe weather today across all of Central Indiana.  As the day goes on, I'll be taking a look a several parameters in the atmosphere to better analyze how things are shaping up for severe thunderstorms.

Sunday is shaping up to be a very windy forecast across Central Indiana. A wind advisory will be in effect from 8 AM to 7 PM.

November 12, 2011

Today has more or less been a pretty good day in the weather category.  The only negative would be the breezy conditions throughout the day across most of the state.  The winds will only increase for the Sunday forecast, so get ready to hold on tight.  Winds will increase from the South at 15-30 mph throughout the day and we could even have wind gusts up to 45 mph.  The National Weather Service has issued a WIND ADVISORY from 8 AM to 7 PM on Sunday.  This means that high profile vehicles will experience some difficulty driving, especially on East-West bound roads.  Homeowners should also be prepared and secure any lawn furniture and trash cans.  This can be accomplished by at least moving them up next to the house or even bringing them into the garage.  I would hate for your trash can to be the one rolling down the road tomorrow!  Despite the winds tomorrow, it's going to be another warm day with temperatures near 65 in the afternoon.  Rain showers return on Monday and will be around for most of the day.  Most locations should see .4" to .7" of rain during the day.

Showers will develop in western Indiana Wednesday morning to bring a wet start to the day. Rain showers will likely be done by the early afternoon hours and then the cold air dives in. Get ready for a few cold days on the back side of this system.

November 8, 2011

It will be another mild and cloudy night in Central Indiana.  But early Wednesday morning (by 7 AM), rain showers will start to move in from Illinois.  We could hear a few rumbles of thunder, but don't expect this to be a strong or severe system as it passes.  Even rainfall amounts aren't looking all that impressive with only .15" to .45" expected area wide.  Showers will quickly move through and it looks like the majority of our shower activity should be done by 2 PM.  Once the front passes, cold air will start moving in and this will cause afternoon temperatures to fall.  Thursday will be a much colder day across Central Indiana.  The cold push will be strong enough to bring about upper 20 degree temps by Friday morning and this would mean the first hard freeze of the season.  This is typically the week that we get our first hard freeze on average.

A warm front will lift through Central Indiana on Monday bringing with it a steady deck of clouds and some light rainfall. But the majority of our rainfall will fall north of I-70.

November 6, 2011

Temperatures will be warmer overnight thanks to a deck of clouds moving into Central Indiana. Lows should only fall into the upper 40s, which puts us above seasonal normals. The warm front will continue to move through on Monday and this is going to keep around the deck of clouds as well as some light rain showers.  The majority of the rain should fall north of I-70 and the amount that accumulates should be less than 1/2 inch.   Temperature wise, even with the cloud cover we should have another pleasant day.  Highs will come in around 65 F for most of Central Indiana.  The one exception will be the northern part of the viewing area where temps will only increase to the low 60s due to the rainfall. Temperatures will increase on Tuesday when we are in the warm sector of the low pressure system.  Most of the area should get into the upper 60s if not up to 70.  But enjoy it while it's here because we are in for a huge cool down by Thursday when temps swing below normal once again.

A weak low pressure system passes through the area overnight and it will bring about some light rainfall. Showers continue into Monday morning but then clouds quickly move out to reveal plenty of sunshine for Halloween.

October 30, 2011

Overall, we had a pretty decent weekend in the weather department.  Temperatures were pleasant both days and rainfall held off until this evening.  This light rainfall will continue overnight and move slowly through Central Indiana.  But the amount of rainfall will be pretty small, with only trace amounts being recorded across most of the area by Monday morning.  Clouds will quickly move out on Monday to reveal some beautiful sunshine for the rest of your Halloween forecast.  Here's the catch, without much cloud cover hanging around for the evening hours, the temperature is bound to fall quickly. This means we'll start trick or treating with temperatures around 59 F at 5 PM.  By 8 PM, the temperature will have already fallen to 48 F.  So if you plan on going out early to trick or treat, you won't need to wear a coat, but the later into the night you go, plan to either add a jacket or wear more layers under your costume.  Happy Halloween Everyone!

Showers likely return to Central Indiana, with heavier rain fall south of I-70. Then colder air wraps in behind the system for Thursday.

October 26, 2011

The majority of the day has been dry for Central Indiana as our cold front has been moving slowly through the area.  As of 4 PM, the cold front was lying along the I-70 corridor and will basically act as a line for the showers to move along later this evening and overnight.  The heaviest rain should fall south of I-70 where 1" of rain is possible.  Farther north, .25" to .5" of rain could fall overnight.  But as the front continues to slide to the south, we will all start to notice a shift in the winds to the north.  That will signal the return of colder air.  Highs on Friday will only reach 49 as cold air advection takes over and moves in a new airmass.  Light showers will also continue Thursday morning behind the low pressure system.  By the noon hour, most of the rain should be done and then clouds will start to decrease for Thursday afternoon.  Mostly sunny conditions return on Friday and this means a nice end to the work week, but it willl still be cool. Highs will only come in around 54 F.

After such an amazing show in the sky last night, many are wondering if we'll see this display again tonight.

October 25, 2011

After an amazing show in the sky last night, many are wondering if we'll see the northern lights again in Central Indiana tonight.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to return to Central Indiana tonight. Due to the set up, the isolated storms could tap into some stronger winds aloft and create some damaging winds.

October 25, 2011

Two big stories in the weather world today... the possible storms late tonight in Central Indiana AND tropical activity in the Gulf of Mexico.  First, let's break down what's happening here at home.

Northern Lights visible in Indiana

October 24, 2011

Thanks to perfectly clear skies and a solar flare, the northern lights are visible in Central Indiana tonight!

Tuesday will be another beautiful day with mostly sunny skies and windy conditions. But it's later Tuesday night that rainfall moves back in and starts to decrease our temps.

October 24, 2011

What a wonderful way to start the workweek today.  Skies became sunny for the afternoon and temperatures were comfortable in the low 60s.  Skies should remain mostly clear on the back side of our cold front overnight and this will allow the temperature to fall into the mid 40s. But we are also going to notice a shift in the winds overnight, from the northwest to the southwest by the early morning hours.  This is going to be crutial in developing even warmer temps for Tuesday.  As the isobars contract, the wind will also increase from the South at 10 to 20 mph, helping result in highs in the mid 70s.  Mostly sunny conditions will also help in the whole process.  But as soon as we enjoy the nice weather, it is going to race away.  Showers return Tuesday night by 10 PM and continue throughout the day Wednesday.  This will bring the temp back down into the mid to low 60s which isn't too bad for the end of October.  But it's the Thursday forecast that has that extra chill... highs will only come in around 49 F as light rain showers continue.

Sunday will round out a perfect fall weekend in Central Indiana. Expect temperatures to continue to rise as we start the workweek. But soon rain will return and cool things back down.

October 22, 2011

After a chilly start to the day today, the afternoon shaped up just about perfectly with mostly sunny skies.  Clouds will start to return overnight and this is going to help hold in some of the heat we gained during the day.  The low will only fall to the low 40s and no where near the freezing mark like this morning.  We will see scattered clouds throughout the day on Sunday and temperatures will be in the mid 60s.  This puts us near normal highs for this time of year and it gives us another good excuse to get outside and enjoy some fall activities.  So take advantage and head to the pumpkin patch or corn maze!  A weak cold front is approaching Central Indiana by Sunday night and this will produce some isolated showers during the night time and early morning hours.  The amount of rainfall will be limited to just trace recordings.  Luckily this cold front won't cool us down for Monday.  Highs will actually increase to the upper 60s as we start the workweek.