Attached is the latest “Isaac” precipitation forecast. (Click here for a full size version.) Also: a tracking forecast that eventually puts the remnants right over Indiana.
Be ready with a BBQ Plan B. The slow moving monster could bring a general 4-7 inch rainfall to central Indiana over Labor Day Weekend.
The all-time rain record for Indianapolis was set on Labor Day weekend 9 years ago, when 7.20 inches fell on September 1, 2003. Those rains were triggered by an area of low pressure moving along a frontal boundary across central Indiana. It combined with plentiful moisture in part from the remnants of another tropical storm. The heavy rain fell on ground already saturated from recent rains.
The ground this time is not so saturated, and the amounts are expected to spread out over a couple of days, but flooding is still a possibility.
Issac will turn to the north-northwest of Louisiana by tomorrow night. The center of the remnants will enter Missouri early Saturday morning and move slowly toward central Indiana, not exiting the state until Labor Day.
The most likely time for rain here will be Saturday and Sunday. (Tracking and precipitation potential maps attached.)
Hurricane Issac’s biggest weapon is its slow speed. As much as 20 inches of rain could fall today and tomorrow over much of Louisiana, Southern Mississippi, and southwest Alabama as it lumbers along.
The storm made landfall again at 3:15am Indiana time a little t west of Port Fourchon, which is about 60 miles south/southwest of New Orleans. It’s moving northwest at only 8mph.
The Category 1 hurricane earlier Tuesday, first touched land in Plaquemines Parish (about 90 miles southeast of New Orleans) just before 7pm last night.
Going into Wednesday the Indianapolis rainfall deficit is 6.54 inches for the year. Things were much drier before this month. In fact, with the 1.42 inches of rain Monday… this is now the 8th wettest August of record in Indianapolis!
The Indy weather station has received almost as much rain in August as it did during the months of April+May+June+July combined. So far this month: 6.51 inches. We might come close to doubling that this weekend.
Until then: perfectly nice! Today will the same as yesterday, plus a degree or two.
Never miss me! Subscribe for free. My Huge Radar has real-time weather tracking, current temperatures, and severe weather watches and warnings. Get detailed Indiana conditions by clicking here. Click here to see my central Indiana 7-Day Forecast. Follow these links to get my forecasts for Lafayette, Muncie, Hendricks County, and Hamilton County. Need a second opinion? Click here for central Indiana National Weather Service forecasts. (Some charts via WeatherBELL.)