Our heat streak is about to stop, with a cold front bringing showers and storms by this evening. There’s a slight risk of some severe weather to the northwest of central Indiana. That’s where the storms will fire first this afternoon. The bulk of the rain around here should come post-picnic, with up to a half an inch of precipitation possible from tonight through Tuesday morning. Maybe do the grill thing for lunch, just to be sure.
You’ll really notice a change by Tuesday night, and Wednesday looks sweet. A couple of more chances of rain Thursday and Friday actually look sweet also, considering our rain deficit. And of course, NEXT weekend? Sunny. Highs in the 70s. No danger of records being threatened.
And ABOUT those Indy 500 records:
On Race Day in 1937 Wilbur Shaw’s margin of Indy 500 victory was 2.16 seconds. That was the smallest margin up to that point, and that was a record that stood until 1982. The official high temperature that day was 92. That’s a record that still stands, although 2012 is as close as any year has come since another 91 degree high in 1953.
So: there is now a three-way tie with 2012, 1953, and 1919 as the 2nd warmest Race Day ever. But they don’t put the 2nd place driver on the trophy, right?
Two records WERE broken in Indiana on Sunday. South Bend hit a high of 97, and Ft. Wayne broke their previous record by reaching 95.
Terre Haute also made it to 95. The high was 94 in Evansville, 93 in Muncie and Lafayette, and (like Indy) 91 in Bloomington.
Indy also ran “cooler” than Lafayette and Muncie on Saturday, which was the first 90 degree day of the year in Indianapolis. The first 90 degree day last year came on Memorial Day, which was May 30, so we’re about on the same timeline.
The biggest Memorial Day weather story this year is Tropical Storm Beryl, which made landfall overnight. Beryl is expected to weaken today. It will move slowly west-northwestward and then turn northeastward over northeastern Florida and southeastern Georgia today and Tuesday.
INDY ALMANAC:
The average high today is 76 and the average low is 57. Records are 96 and 39. The sunrise time is 6:21 and the sunset comes at 9:05.
UV INDEX:
Another day in the “very high” range. The index is 10.
POLLEN COUNT:
Pollen concentrations for today will once again be in the “medium-high” range.
DETAILED INDIANAPOLIS FORECAST:
Memorial Day: Partly to mostly sunny and hot again. Slight afternoon shower/storm chance. High 91.
Monday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Low 70.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely early to mid morning. Then, mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 72.
Thursday Night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 53. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 68.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 73.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 77.
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