Though rain showers will end this evening, a moisture-laden atmosphere will be spawn areas of locally dense fog overnight/early Monday morning.  This may reduce visibility enough to cause school delays in the morning…so it’s a good idea to make alternate plans for your kids just in case.  Fog and low cloud overcast should thin after 10-11am.

Though most areas remain dry Monday, there is enough weakness in the atmosphere to allow a few showers to “pop” during daytime heating.  If anything develops it will be short in nature.

The brighter finish will allow temperatures to quickly shoot into the mid 70s… marking the beginning of four day stretch of unseasonably warm days!

Highs Tuesday make a serious charge at 80° and temps should be well into the 80s Wednesday.

While I’m pumped about the impending warm up… consider me less than thrilled about pollen levels that are poised to shoot through the roof this week!  This is an unfortunate byproduct of the recent rain and rapid warm up.

We’re still monitoring trends for a potential wet set-up late week into next weekend.  Computer models continue to suggest a “cutoff” low impacting the midwest…though exact location is still uncertain and plays a major role in the outcome.  Underneath this low will be unseasonably cold air (30s/40s) and even potential for snow.  ”Right now” it appears Central Indiana will be on the eastern edge of the coldest air Friday/Saturday…but possibly underneath a train of rain/storms that will be wrapping around the storm center.  If model projections verify, it could be a rather wet Saturday for the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon.  Stay tuned to a very changeable forecast being this far out. Due to this uncertainty don’t be surprised to see rather large changes made to days 5-7 in the 7 day forecast.  We’ll continue to monitor trends and make adjustments accordingly.  Have a great evening and thanks for reading the blog – Sean Ash

As of 5:40pm monthly rainfall at Indianapolis is 8.55″…which ties April 2013 and 1922 for the 2nd wettest April on record in Indianapolis.  Rain continues to fall at the airport, and only .06″ is needed for the top spot.  Stay tuned for updates this evening and a detailed look into the week ahead.

Keep the rain gear handy… scattered showers and storms are likely today, especially this morning.

Highs will reach the mid 60s despite the cloud cover and rain.

Tonight, a few spotty showers are still possible as temps stay mild in the 50s.

Monday, we wake up with clouds and a slight chance of a shower, but we end up with sun and clouds with temps in the 70s.

Tuesday and Wednesday look fantastic with highs around 80.

Thursday through Sunday still looks unsettled, and we’re watching this closely to see the exact timing of the rain and storms.

As of **right** now, plan on scattered showers and storms Thursday and Friday, and rain Saturday and Sunday.

This could change, so check back with us often.

That is a possibility with the return of rainfall the next 24 hours.  As of now, this month is the 3rd wettest April on record… trailing only 1893 and 1922 for top honors.

“If” computer model rainfall projections of .25″ to a .50″+ between now and Monday 7am verify… this could be wettest April on record by the end of the weekend.  Stay tuned!

Showers are increasing across Central Indiana as I type this forecast blog, and become likely area wide overnight into Sunday morning.  This is in response to a slow-moving low pressure system that will turtle along the I-70 corridor the next 36 hours.  The eastern side of the low center has better lift, and provides higher rain chances… contrasted by descending air on the northwestern/western side where rain becomes more scattered.  This positioning plays a role in our Sunday forecast.  Notice below the coverage of rain “scattering” out later Sunday.

Less rain/cloud cover also plays a big role in the latest temperature forecast.  Overcast tonight, despite the rain, serves as a blanket and keeps lows from dropping much below 52°-54°.

But the “blanket” of clouds blocks sunshine on Sunday, and temperatures will only be roughly 10° warmer than overnight lows.

A brighter sky allows Monday temps to quickly soar into the mid 70s!  This marks the beginning of a prolonged stretch of above normal temps that will send us to near 80°+ during mid-week!

The late week/next weekend forecast gets more difficult, and ultimately hinges on the precise location of a cold-core low… something that is not unanimous in current forecast modeling.  Below is a comparison of placement for Friday 2pm (CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE).  Notice the Euro model is farther west than the GFS (the GFS has been trending westward to the Euro’s solution).  This is a drier, warmer solution for Central Indiana (noted by star) for Friday… and why I’ve opted to go mid-70s in my latest forecast.  Also note the channel of precipitation on the eastward side of the low.  Impossible to say how wide this will actually be.  Areas outside of the rain axis will have considerably warmer (50s vs 70s) temperatures than areas parked under rain/storms.

There is some agreement, for now) that the rain axis may have a higher impact locally on Saturday.  Still plenty of time to change, but “if” the scenario below verifies it would be wet for the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon.  Nothing set in stone, but something we’re monitoring for changes.

With all that said… know the 7 day below is highly changeable.  The potential narrow nature of rain on east side of the system makes for a highly bustable forecast even within 24 hours.  Could be a feast or famine situation next weekend.

Thanks for reading the blog and be sure to check back for updates.

Central Indiana is off to a dry start this morning, but scattered showers will develop especially as we head into the afternoon.

Highs will reach the mid 60s today.  Our normal high is 67, so we’re close to that.  Spotty showers are possible after 1pm… but will be likely by late evening.

Tonight rain will be likely, so keep the rain gear handy if you have evening plans.

Sunday, scattered showers and thunderstorms remain in the forecast.  By Sunday night, up to 1/2″ of rain is possible (that’s counting today’s rain too).

The weekend won’t be a washout, but rain chances are there… and we’re nearing the wettest April on record.

Monday and Tuesday look fantastic!  Highs in the 70s to kick off the work week, and we could be close to 80 Tuesday!

Stay tuned for mid week storms.  The timing still needs to be worked out, but late Wednesday into Thursday and Friday showers and storms are possible.

An early look at the mini marathon shows start temps in the 30s with scattered showers.  We’ll keep you posted… that’s subject to change!