INDIANA, USA — We only have two rain chances the rest of October, but if they end up very weak, we may end up with the driest October on record for central Indiana.
Tap HERE to track the rain as is approaches Indiana from the west with our interactive radar.
Front #1: Friday with spotty showers and downpours
- Rain will be hit-or-miss. Downpours will be few.
- Generally we're expecting up to a tenth of an inch, very few Hoosiers may get 0.25".
Front #2: Halloween (estimated timing)
- A higher rain chance should move in around Halloween, possibly with rumbles of thunder.
- Too early for rainfall totals, but we could pick up a tenth to a half inch of rain.
(Note: If Halloween brings less than a quarter inch of rain, we may still be in the top five for driest Octobers on record.)
Our driest October on record for Indianapolis was in 1963, when only 0.17" of rain fell. So far for 2024 we have only picked up 0.07". If we get less than a tenth of an inch of rain the rest of the month, then it will be the driest on record.
Burn bans are being added daily across Indiana (in red). Tap HERE to see the full updated list from DHS.
Because Halloween is still about a week away, let's focus on the first front, which may bring some rain Friday.
Timing the rain for Friday
Clouds will increase after dark Thursday into early Friday morning. The rain will be heavier and more consistent in Illinois. As it runs into higher pressure over Indiana and our drier air, some of the showers will shrivel up and evaporate.
6 a.m.: Spotty showers with a downpour or two
The best chance of rain in the early morning Friday before sunrise will be north of Indianapolis, however everyone in Indiana does have a chance for a quick shower.
The rain looks to be limited in coverage with lots of dry air in between. The rain will be very on-and-off and hit-or-miss.
12 p.m.: Isolated showers across Indiana, possibly a few more downpours south
Expect mostly cloudy skies much of the daylight hours with isolated showers still possible. Most of the time looks dry, but expect to be interrupted by some intermittent rain. Not everyone is guaranteed rain, however.
6 p.n.: Clouds slowly clearing, but a stray shower is still possible south and east of Indianapolis
The front will be passing through central Indiana, but some brief lingering clouds in the evening may still bring a spotty shower or two through sunset, especially south and east of Indianapolis.
Any rain that falls would be light and brief.
Northwest winds will pick up after the rain with clearing skies later in the evening and later that night. Expect mostly sunny skies by Saturday.
Rainfall expectations
Don't expect a lot of rain. There will be a few lucky Hoosiers that may pick up more than a tenth of an inch of rain. Most of us will stay under a tenth. Expect a couple hundredths of an inch of rain. For many the rain will barely be enough to wet the ground. There may also be some Hoosiers that miss all the showers and stay completely dry.
Looking ahead
After a cool weekend, next week, the final week of October, looks warm! Expect lots of 70s. A few Hoosiers may even reach 80 degrees.
There may be a front around Halloween with some rain chances. Does it arrive a day later into November? Possibly. Stay with us!
-13News Meteorologist Matt Standridge