INDIANAPOLIS — Our streak of sunny days continues in central Indiana, but is coming with some unwelcomed byproducts. The same sprawling high-pressure system responsible for the prolonged streak of sunshine is also worsening drought conditions and air quality.
Air Quality Alert
The latter has prompted Air Quality Alerts for many counties in central Indiana, including Indianapolis, from this evening into Tuesday evening.
This is due to high levels of particulates gathering near the surface after days of stagnant air, calm to light wind, and added particulates due to the harvesting of crops in Indiana.
If you have a sensitive respiratory system, you'll want to limit outdoor time until the first of two cold fronts arrives Tuesday night into Wednesday.
Drought Worsens
This front won't bring much rain, but breezier conditions emerge in its wake on Wednesday to mix up ground-level particulates. Several counties were added to the list of burn bans Monday in what's been a rather dry October. To date, only .07" of rainfall in Indianapolis and much of the state is 2"+ below rainfall this month.
There isn't much widespread precipitation expected over the next seven days, though a second front on Friday may trigger some showers and/or thunderstorms. But the biggest impacts of the fronts this week will be quick jabs of seasonably chillier air.
Quick Shots Of Chillier Air
It will be noticeably cooler on Thursday and this weekend, too. The coldest morning is expected to be Sunday, when lows area-wide return to the 30s, though some areas get there Thursday morning as well.
But we're still expecting plenty of sunshine for weekend plans at this point and quick return to 70s early next week. The long-range trend is for above average temperatures to finish the month, but it is to be determined if there will be rain on Halloween.
