INDIANAPOLIS — We've talked ad nauseam about the pending pattern shift to much colder air... and the time for talk is over. The wind of change is ripping through central Indiana and delivering easily the coldest air of the season the next 24-48 hours.
Persistent cloud cover over the eastern half of the state gradually departs overnight to set the stage for our coldest lows since early to mid March. A Freeze Warning is in effect for all of central Indiana the mid-20s we're forecasting essentially ends the growing season in central Indiana.
It also marks one of the colder Halloween temperatures on record for Indianapolis. If the 26° forecast low we have for Indy verifies, it would be the coldest on Halloween here since 1954 and one of only six Halloweens in Indy since 1871 colder than 27°.
There won't be much recovery tomorrow with forecast "highs" only in the lower 40s. In addition, a vigorous upper level storm system arrives during the afternoon. An Arctic front associated with it could crank-out a band of snow showers/squalls between 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Brief whiteout conditions, gusty wind, possibly a coating of snow (mainly grassy areas), and a smaller chance of lightning can be expected with that quick-moving line of wind-whipped snow.
The front is followed by highly uncomfortable cold trick-or-treating weather of gusty wind, temperatures dropping to near/below freezing, windchills in the teens/lower 20s, and additional flurries and snow bursts. Parents should plan on layering-up properly and/or covering up kids with blankets between homes to battle the blustery conditions.
Wednesday remains unseasonably cold and deceivingly sunny with lows in the 20s and highs in the 40s.
The season's cold hit eases later in the week highs back in the 50s Thursday and nearing 60° Friday with a good dose of sunshine. Highs go well into the 60s this weekend with a strengthening south-southwesterly wind.
