This should be the hottest day of the year so far in Indianapolis. So far, 84 has been the magic number. We hit it on March 21, April 3, and that’s where the thermometer stopped yesterday. It was three degrees shy of the record. (And my forecast.) I think there will be less clouds around today and we should easily get those degrees back. The record high for today is 86, set in 1959.
The reason for the peak of the heat this week? Credit what is called an “upper ridge.” Think of it as high pressure in the upper part of the atmosphere. It will strengthen over us today, and that should result in drier conditions, keeping that cloud count down and also lowering the dew point slightly from the mugginess Wednesday. Dew point temperatures reflect the amount of moisture in the air, independent of the temperature. Those two elements are combined to come up with the relative humidity, or moisture in relation to the temperature. When the dew point gets above 60, people start noticing. Start moving into the mid 60’s and they REALLY notice. More than 70, and you’re talking tropical The dew point in Indianapolis was 65 degrees or high from 9am-5pm yesterday. Workin’ 9-5! What a way for Mother Nature to make a livin’.
Storms should stay to the northwest of Indianapolis until after midnight tonight. Friday promises several rounds of showers and storms. It is possible that a few storms in the afternoon could produce large hail and damaging wind, so the Storm Prediction Center has already placed the state in a state of “slight risk” for Friday. At the moment there is not a severe storm risk for the weekend, but “500” Festival officials will watching closely. You can race in the rain, but not in storms.
MINI MARATHON SATURDAY:
It should be partly sunny, with only a 20 or 30 percent shower/storm chance. It will be fairly muggy with dew point temperatures around 63. There won’t be much wind, maybe about 5mph from the southeast. Temperatures at 7am will be around 66, and up to 72 by 10am.
POLLEN COUNT:
Temperatures are high, and so is the Pollen Count today. And it will stay high through Saturday, dropping to “Medium-High” Sunday.
INDY ALMANAC:
The average high today is 69 and the average low is 49. The record high is 86, from 1959. The record low is 29, from 2005 . Sunrise comes at 6:43 and the sunset is at 8:42. You’ll see ’em both.
DETAILED INDIANAPOLIS FORECAST:
Today: Mostly sunny and even hotter. Winds gusting to 25mph in the midday and afternoon. High 86.
Tonight: Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and storms after midnight. Low 64.
Friday: Mostly cloudy, with scattered showers and storms. High 81.
Friday Night: Chance of showers and storms. Low 65.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a slight chance of showers and storms. High 82.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy. Slight shower or storm chance. Low 62.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a slight chance of showers and storms. High 78.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a slight shower or storm chance. Low 60.
Monday: Mostly cloudy with chances of showers and storms. High 76.
Monday Night: Chance of showers. Low 58.
Tuesday: Partly sunny. High 72.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy. Low 53.
Wednesday: Partly sunny. Chance of showers and storms. High 69.
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