INDIANAPOLIS — TODAY: Sunny and unseasonably warm with highs near 80.
When is the next chance of rain?
A frontal boundary, stalled in southern Indiana, will trigger a few storms mainly after midnight. As the front lifts north overnight, showers and storms become more widespread. This first wave will continue through the early afternoon Tuesday.
Severe storms are not expected. We'll then see a lull with lots of dry hours Tuesday afternoon, allowing temperatures to recover to the upper 70s/near 80.
When are severe storms possible?
The Storm Prediction Center has placed most of Indiana under a Level 1 of 5 for isolated strong storms Tuesday night (mainly after sunset) into the pre-dawn hours Wednesday morning.
Scattered storms will then develop Wednesday afternoon (approximately 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. west to east) as a cold front sweeps across the state. A few strong to severe storms are possible, but we'll have to see how the overnight storms work over the atmosphere and if parameters will be right for stronger storms to develop.
Nonetheless, the Storm Prediction Center upgraded the area to a Level 2 of 5 for the risk of damaging wind gusts and large hail along this line.
How much does it cool off behind the cold front?
Highs will still be in the 70s ahead of the frontal passage Wednesday afternoon before cooler air starts to take over for the rest of the week. We get a break from the rain on Thursday, but it will be more seasonal with highs in the upper 60s.
The cooling trend continues with a secondary cold front set to move through Friday. This will bring a stray shower or storm chance, as well as falling temperatures. Look for highs in the upper 50s/near 60 Friday and only in the mid to upper 50s next weekend.
