INDIANAPOLIS — After a couple of days of local heavy thunderstorms, we're finally seeing improvements to the air quality in central Indiana.
While it's certainly not perfect, we're now out of the "unhealthy levels for sensitive groups" category, and Indianapolis' AQI at time of posting (73) was as low as it's been since Saturday morning.
However, there remains a noticeable layer of smoke that's filtering the sun again today. It will continue to thin and dissipate over the next 24 hours, but you won't notice anything significantly different in the sky today.
You will notice a much quieter radar locally as the main axis for storms and severe weather sets up closer to the Ohio River and points south.
That's not to say pop-up downpours or storms won't develop — it's just our odds are much lower, and we're definitely going to bypass a severe storm complex(es) that track from near Kansas City to Nashville over the next 24 hours. That's within a zone of enhanced severe wind and destructive hail potential.
Over the next 72 hours, expect the Muggy Meter to be miserable in central Indiana with dewpoints near or above 70 degrees. That's the "air you can wear," and it will peak on Thursday with dewpoints reaching the mid-70s.
That's as humid as it gets around here.
The tropical air, combined with temperatures in the upper 80s, will make it "feel" like 100+ degrees at times Thursday. Heat Advisories may be issued. Either way, plan on very uncomfortable air until a cold front moves through the state Thursday and into Friday morning.
We expect scattered to numerous thunderstorms near and east of that front on Thursday, and some of those storms likely will be severe. Check back for forecast updates. The trade-off for the muggiest of days and heavy storms will be a refreshing air mass arriving just in time for the weekend, with ample sunshine to accompany it.
