More warmth and rain before Thanksgiving weathermaker
INDIANAPOLIS (WXIN) — It was a cloudy and slightly cooler-than-normal Saturday with highs in the upper 30s to near 40º. The lingering patchy drizzle also began the day with a few more pockets possible into the evening. As we get into Sunday, a warm front will finally provide us a break in the clouds and begin a brief warming pattern. But, it won’t last long before our eyes turn to a midweek system where rain and snow are on the table around the busy Thanksgiving travel period.
Warm front brings breaks in clouds and warmer temps
An upper-level ridge will allow warmer southwest flow back into Central Indiana. Expect highs in the 50s with low 60s possible south and southwest of Indianapolis. This will be possible and all very dependent on if skies clear. If clouds stick around, areas north may not even get out of the upper 40s. All in all, definitely not a bad Sunday on tap but we will see when the clouds clear. If you’re heading to the Colts game, things will be great all around minus the slightly cooler start.
After a dry day, rain chances return overnight Sunday into Monday. The daytime on Monday will remain warm and breezy. Highs in the upper 50s are in the cards with some scattered showers, too. A few spots could approach a quarter of an inch of rain. Any activity will be light and scattered.
Cold front drops temperatures for Tuesday
After a cold front comes through later Monday, cooler northwest flow returns. Tuesday will be noticeably cooler with highs in the upper 30s and lower 40s. Tuesday will likely be the sunniest day of the week, too thanks to the quickly clearing skies.
Next system midweek could disrupt Thanksgiving travel
We are still several days away from our next weather system. However, it’s something we will keep an eye on. Beginning late Wednesday night, precipitation chances will go up. Storm track will be key as to what precipitation type Central Indiana sees.
If the low goes north, that would give us rain with northern Indiana getting snow (model #1). If it went along the Ohio River, many hometowns would get decent snowfall (model #2). If the low went even further south toward the Tennessee Valley, Central Indiana would be mainly spared from heavy precipitation (model #3). However, the colder temperatures would remain.
At this point, we are still too far out to determine that track. We are calling for both rain/snow chances late Wednesday-Thanksgiving Thursday with more fine-tuning needed in the days ahead. Thanksgiving 2024 will be the coldest since 2019, as forecast highs may not get out of the upper 30s. It could be the first one with snow since 2014. If more than an inch of snow occurred, it would be the first since 1959.
Details will be fine-tuned getting into next week. As of now, anticipate it could be a mess for late Wednesday and Thursday holiday travelers for much of the Midwest. This gradually gets out of here in time for Black Friday.
Turning much colder to open December
Anticipate the coldest air of the season potentially after Thanksgiving into the opening days of December. Highs may not get out of the 30s and stick around freezing for several days.
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