INDIANAPOLIS — This is the third day in a row of sunshine and highs in the 60s. In fact, some locations won't be far from nearing 70 degrees this afternoon, which is a good 15+ degrees above average for mid-November.
Sunset this evening is at 5:30 p.m., and we're expecting another pleasantly cool evening with a clear sky. We're back to sunshine and unseasonably mild highs near 70 degrees one more day tomorrow.
Sunshine, combined with afternoon dewpoints in the 20s and a stiff southwest wind, support elevated fire risks today and Thursday, especially south of I-70 where there are several counties under burn bans. You should heed these warnings and hold off on any burning until after Friday.
That will be our next day of rain with the arrival of a cold front. While rain likely won't be too heavy, it will fall steadily at times Friday. Any rain is highly welcomed for the parched landscape, where moderate drought conditions exist.
Latest guidance shows very little (less than .10") rain to possibly near half-inch (most likely south and southeast) between midnight and 7 p.m. Friday.
Temperatures on Friday peak in the mid/upper 50s before the passage of the front during early afternoon. We're expecting temperatures to drop into the 40s from northwest-to-southeast by sunset and set the stage for clear, chilly, brisk conditions for Operation Football Friday night.
This also paves the way for a much colder weekend that will be "pleasantly crisp" if you're more into chillier autumn weather. Lows drop into the 20s Saturday and Sunday with highs in the upper 40s to near 50 degrees, along with plenty of sunshine.
Long-range guidance continues to suggest the potential of a decent rain-maker moving through the Ohio Valley next week before Thanksgiving. This would precede a transition to a colder pattern and the likelihood of below-average temperatures arriving just in time for Thanksgiving. Our very early call for the holiday in central Indiana next Thursday is sunshine and highs near 40 degrees. Check back for updates.
