INDIANAPOLIS — Today is easily the warmest day this week and likely brightest, too. After early-day clouds and overnight rain, the brightening sky teamed up with a gusty southwest wind to deliver near 70° highs — some 20° above average for Nov. 19. The shelf-life on this balmy air expires the next 24 hours as the first of two cold fronts crosses the state Wednesday morning.
Morning rain to bright and breezy Wednesday
Widespread rain showers accompany that boundary for the morning commute before departing by midday tomorrow. We'll finish Wednesday bright and breezy but much colder than today with highs in the lower 50s.
Weather Impact Alert Day on Thursday
The well-advertised coldest air of the season is still on target to arrive Thursday morning with temperatures dropping to near freezing, windchills near 20° and a burst of snow showers just in time for the commute.
While it may look like a snow globe at times Thursday, roads should be mainly wet with the lone exception possibly if any heavier, steadier lake-enhanced bursts develop later in the day. That's a possibility, but too difficult to pinpoint at this time.
But we fully expect bursts of heavier snow rates to sink southward off of Lake Michigan and with the strengthening low-pressure system—especially between 3 p.m. and midnight. The Thursday afternoon/evening commute will be the most impacted from the strong wind, heavier snow rate combination.
We've opted to make Thursday a Weather Impact Alert Day due to the combination of low visibility, wind gusts of 40+ mph, wind-whipped snow, windchills hovering in the lower 20s and cold highs in the 30s.
The strong wind may cause some power outages, and grassy snow accumulation is expected along/east of I-65, with locally higher amounts possible.
Again, we don't envision widespread road issues (though they will be wet all day), and this won't be a "crippler" by any means. But the first snow is always the most talked about, and the cold is notable due to how warm this month and autumn has been.
Rain and snow showers continue into Friday morning before easing some. Expect seasonably chilly temperatures in the 40s for Operation Football Friday semi-state games.
The chill eases the second half of the weekend with highs in the 50s Sunday. Rain and breezy conditions return early next week.
