113 FXUS63 KIND 191917 AFDINDArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 317 PM EDT Fri Sep 19 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Very warm temperatures persist into Saturday
- Chances for showers and a few thunderstorms arrive as early as late tonight into Saturday
- Milder conditions Sunday onward with daily potential for showers and storms next week
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.SHORT TERM (This evening through Saturday)... Issued at 317 PM EDT Fri Sep 19 2025
The first rainfall chances in several days will move into the area later tonight as an upper level low that has been blocked to our west finally progresses eastward toward the region.
A few showers and perhaps a thunderstorm will be possible after about midnight tonight, and chances will linger into Saturday as the trough axis sits overhead and modest instability develops, though coverage and intensity should be limited. Better precipitation chances will hold off until the long term as moisture transport into the region will be fairly weak until at least early Sunday.
Low level temperatures and thicknesses suggest one more quite warm day on Saturday despite the increasing cloud cover and precipitation chances, with highs climbing into the mid to upper 80s across the area.
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.LONG TERM (Saturday night through Friday)... Issued at 317 PM EDT Fri Sep 19 2025
A fairly dramatic pattern shift will continue into the long term as the blocking ridge that brought dry and hot weather this week will be replaced by two upper level waves that look to merge into a large closed low that will persist somewhere across the region into the eastern CONUS throughout much of next week.
This will lead to significantly milder temperatures and and an unsettled forecast with daily chances for showers and a few thunderstorms.
Model differences in the handling of this upper low do result in lower precipitation chances with time due to increasing uncertainty, but chances will be necessary most basically every period during the long term, with thunder probabilities largely diurnally driven.
Probability matched mean progs and model precipitable water values suggest a couple of periods, especially Sunday into Monday, when some more widespread showers will be possible, along with brief heavy downpours as PWAT values exceed climatological 90th percentile. Total rainfall through the period may be enough to put a dent in recently intensified drought conditions locally, though likely not quite enough to completely erase long term moisture deficits that now run as high as 5 or more inches in spots over the past 60-90 days.
Temperatures will be as much as 10 to 15 degrees cooler next week, depending upon the position of the low, as the exact position will determine degree of cloud cover and precipitation, which will significantly impact the resultant insolation.
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.AVIATION (18Z TAF Issuance)... Issued at 106 PM EDT Fri Sep 19 2025
Impacts:
- VFR through the period
Discussion:
VFR conditions are expected through the period.
An upper level low will very slowly approach the area from the west through the period, which will lead to a gradual increase in mid and high cloud. A stray shower cannot be ruled out late in the period, but chances are low and significant impacts are unlikely.
Winds will be less than 10KT throughout the period, occasionally variable. Direction will become more southerly with time.
No obstructions to visibility are expected.
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.IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None.
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SHORT TERM...Nield LONG TERM...Nield AVIATION...Nield
NWS IND Office Area Forecast Discussion