Two days with no drama! And then: the drama is at least *warmer.*
Yesterday’s snow and sleet brings the seasonal total in Indy to exactly 52 inches. The most ever in an entire snow season is 58.2 inches. Just 6.3 inches away from breaking that record also. (You know it’s a lock, right?) Monday’s storm featured virtually everything. Sleet and freezing rain ended up being a bigger deal than snow. The total precipitation was .21 of an inch, with only 0.3 inches of snow. Compare that to last Friday. Then we had .29 inches of liquid precipitation, with 5.5 inches of snow. It’s all in the temperatures – both above us and at the surface. Milder air above us contributed to the liquid-falling-and-freezing yesterday, but it’s making its way down to the ground over the next three days, giving us the warmest day of the year so far Thursday.
Today’s highs will be in the low 40s in Lafayette, where 2 inches of snow was noted near Purdue yesterday. Richmond and Muncie will also be in the low 40s. Indy hits the mid 40s, and it may get to 50 in Bloomington. We should be in the 40s again tomorrow, with mid to upper 50s surging into the state Thursday.
Those 50+ temps will come with rain. About an inch is expected from showers throughout the day. There are also indications a squall line could come together in the afternoon and evening. The Storm Prediction Center has already placed the state under a slight risk for severe weather.
The surge doesn’t last. We’re back to the 40s Friday and Saturday, and below average again by Sunday, and that’s the way it is next week. The next snow chance is Monday. Hopefully you’ll have your lawn back before it gets hidden again. This morning on Twitter @DJMciver asked how many consecutive days there’s been snow on the ground. Answer: the Indy Airport hasn’t reported a “0” snow depth since…. New Years Day.
Within the 9 inches on the ground this morning is about an inch or two of water. Combine that with the expected rain Thursday and you get a threat of at least minor flooding late in the week.
INDY ALMANAC:
The average high today is 41 and the average low is 25. Records are 66 and -11. The sun rises at 7:34 and sets at 6:25.
PAUL’S PREVIOUS PREDICTION:
Yesterday’s high was 33. My forecast was 33.
INDIANAPOLIS FORECAST:
Today: Mostly sunny. High 45.
Tonight: Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 29.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny. High 42.
Wednesday Night: Clouding up. Shower chances after midnight. Low 33.
Thursday: Rain and thunderstorms, possibly severe. High 58.
Thursday Night: Chance of showers. Low 32.
Friday: Partly cloudy. High 43.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 30.
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Chance of showers. High 42.
Saturday Night: Chance of showers. Chance of snow late. Low 25.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 35.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 21.
Monday: Chance of snow. High 30.
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.)