Indiana’s Weather For Thursday

Low pressure is organizing in the Texas Panhandle.

It will bring 2-4 inches of snow to central Indiana north and west of Indy Friday, mainly in the afternoon and evening. I think the range is 2-5 south and southeast of Indy. The Weather Service puts the top range at 3 north and west, and 4 to the southeast.

How cold was it this morning? Some of that depended upon the local snow pack.

NWS INDIANAPOLIS TECHNICAL DISCUSSION

.FORECAST UPDATE...
Issued at 1025 AM EST Thu Jan 9 2025

No changes needed to the forecast this morning. Generally clear
skies prevail across the region. Temperatures dipped into the low
single digits with pockets of negative values across portions of
south central Indiana. Gradual warming is expected now that the sun
is up...but highs will still be cold, with readings topping out in
the low to mid 20s. A few pockets of highs in the teens are not out
of the question. Clouds gradually increase by evening and then more
rapidly after sunset, with snow arriving tomorrow morning.


.SHORT TERM (Today and tonight)...
Issued at 322 AM EST Thu Jan 9 2025

Tonight...

Mid and high clouds will start to roll in tonight from west to east
as the upstream system phases over the Missouri Valley and Plains.
The increased clouds and warm advection will result in stationary
and rising temperatures tonight. Meanwhile, snow will also approach
or move into the Wabash Valley toward daybreak with the bulk of the
snowfall holding off until Friday, however.



.LONG TERM (Friday through Wednesday)...
Issued at 322 AM EST Thu Jan 9 2025

The main focus in the extended period will be the snow expected
on Friday with accumulations likely. Guidance continues to be in
good agreement showing a low pressure system developing across the
south in association with a deep southern stream trough. This
system will remain south, but another weak surface low moving
through the Great Lakes at the same time helps pull gulf moisture
northward. In addition, models show both of the parent troughs
from these systems attempting to phase together allowing for
deeper moisture transport. Sufficient forcing and moisture
supports widespread snow across central Indiana.

Look for precipitation to begin early Friday morning over western
counties and spread eastward across all of central Indiana by the
early afternoon. Forecast soundings show thermal profiles well below
zero with forcing mainly focused in the mid-upper levels near the
DGZ. This suggest high SLRs ranging from 12:1 to 16:1. These high
SLRs combined with expected QPF of 0.15-0.3 supports the potential
for 2-4 inches of snow accumulation. However, the higher end amounts
should be more focused towards south/southeast portions of the area
where guidance shows better alignment of forcing and deeper
moisture.

Quiet weather conditions are expected Saturday with surface high
pressure building in. Guidance then shows a clipper moving in
Sunday/Monday which which could promote scattered light snow
showers. The one limiting factor is moisture will remain displaced
well south keeping QPF and any snow accumulations very light. Colder
air will filter in behind this system keeping temperatures below
normal. Look for single digit lows to return by Monday night.

INDY SEVEN DAY FORECAST
Today: Partly to mostly sunny. High 23.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 13.

Friday: Snow begins in the late morning. High 28.

Friday Night: Snow fades by late evening. 2-4 inches total. 2-5 inches possible Indy south and southeastward. Low 20.

Saturday: Partly sunny. High 28.

Saturday Night: Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 19.

Sunday: Partly to mostly cloudy. High 33.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with some snow showers. Low 25.

Monday: Mainly morning snow showers. Mostly cloudy. High 29.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy. Low 10.

Tuesday: Partly sunny. High 21.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 7.

Wednesday: Partly sunny. High 22.

NWS CHARTS FOR TODAY/TONIGHT