INDIANA, USA —
Warm and windy today, some severe storms tonight
We have two seasons on the way today, April 17, across Indiana with some summer warmth this afternoon, followed by some severe storms later tonight, especially after 10 p.m.
In the meantime, we will reach into the high 70s and low 80s across Indiana. Southerly winds gusts up to 40 mph are possible. The wind moving around so much may make it feel a little cooler outside, but still expect a warm day today.
Tap HERE to track the incoming rain and storms from the west with our interactive radar.
Central Indiana: 10 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday
Afterwards, heavy rain and thunder will be possible on and off through the Easter weekend. We are still on track for 1-3″ of rain. That sounds like a big range, and it is, but some areas will get repeated downpours while others get some rain at times.
Most of the rain and storms pushing Indiana through Friday night and early Saturday morning will not be severe. Rather, we are expecting batches of heavy rain and lightning through the night at times, but a few of these rounds could have a part of the storm that turns severe with some 60+ mph wind gusts. Hail and tornado threats are extremely low, but not zero.
This is a lower end severe threat. Some of our area, especially from Indianapolis to the north and west, is under a level 2 severe threat. Storm risks are slightly lower to the south.
These lower risks mainly highlight the coverage of severe storms will be more isolated. Most Hoosiers will likely not get a severe storm, but rather some rain and thunder.
- High wind threat: medium
- Hail threat: low
- Tornado threat: very low to low
After 6 a.m. Saturday, we may still have a few more severe storms, especially south of Indianapolis at times the rest of the morning. There is a level 1 severe risk for the continued chance for some high winds with a few storms. Most of them should just be heavy rain and thunder.
We have the heat and humidity to produce storms, but one of our limiting factors is the upper-levels to help create very efficient storms are not aligned well, which is good news for us.
We think a lot of the updrafts will get waterlogged in a setup like this, plus rotation in the atmosphere is limited. These are reasons why the severe threat isn’t larger than it is.
We are not tracking just one round of nasty storms, but rather multiple rounds of rain and lightning and some wind. Every time a cluster passes by, it will overwork the atmosphere.
After early Saturday morning storms, there may still be some storms, mainly south of Indianapolis, through the afternoon. The SPC has issued a level 1 severe risk across parts of Indiana for the rest of Saturday.
We think Easter Sunday will be wet, too, especially in the morning. Some drier weather is possible later in the afternoon and evening. Even if the rain stops where you live, we expect backyards to remain soaked and muddy. You may want an inside backup plan for easter egg hunts and rolls.
The last round of rain and storms may arrive early Monday morning. The farther we go out, the clarity on rain and storms chances diminishes. Every round impacts the next round with cooler outflow boundaries and front positions.
Essentially, expect rain and storms at times on and off through Monday morning. We have a good soaking on the way. More field flooding is possible.
-13News Meteorologist Matt Standridge
