INDIANAPOLIS — Another pleasant September day in central Indiana, but noticeably warmer with highs reaching the mid/upper 80s as expected. Dew points remain relatively dry in the upper 40s and 50s around the metro area and points north, but more humid air continues to creep into southern Indiana. Twenty-four hours from now, we expect a more humid feel areawide in what will be the hottest day of the week as highs approach 90° with hazy sunshine.
Operation Football forecast
We're still targeting Friday as a transitional day to get to much chillier air this weekend. That process includes increasing showers along/south of a strong cold front. Embedded within those showers will be some thunderstorms that could contain hail. The axis of more concentrated rain/storms settles south of Interstate 70 by 7 p.m. Friday as a stiffening northerly wind develops north-to-south after the cold front passes.
That flow drops temperatures into the 60s during most Operation Football games Friday night with gusts over 25 mph likely during games. Widespread rain departs with the front Friday night as we wake to lows in the upper 40s (north) to 50s in the central and southern part of the region.
Much colder this weekend
A steady, brisk northerly to north-northwesterly wind on Saturday keeps temperatures in check as highs struggle to return to 70°.
It will never feel that warm due to partly to mostly low-level cloud cover in the afternoon and the chance of some lake effect sprinkles/showers developing. We'll continue to monitor that portion of the forecast the next 72 hours for potential impacts to outdoor events.
Clouds and wind diminish Saturday night into Sunday morning to allow temperatures to quickly drop well into the 40s across all of central Indiana. This is more indicative of mid-October versus early September. If you're out early on Sunday, you'll definitely want to be in a heavier coat. But we expect less wind Sunday and plenty of sun with highs climbing back to near 70°, so it will feel better to finish the weekend.
Flash drought possible in coming weeks
Unfortunately, the combination of very little rain next week, sunshine and warming temperatures puts central Indiana in flash drought potential over the next 2-4 weeks. Updates to come.
