textproduct: Indianapolis

KEY MESSAGES

- Cooler temperatures are expected through the weekend, with lows around freezing tonight through Sunday night

- Highs return to the 60s early next week, but cooler temperatures will return Thursday

FORECAST UPDATE

Issued at 930 PM EST Fri Nov 6 2026

Cloud cover has been fairly variable across portions of central Indiana as a battle between drier air from high pressure over the MS valley combines with remnant lake effect clouds streaming south from Lake Michigan. Recent satellite trends suggest that the dry air is winning the battle over western and southern sections of the forecast area. Therefore have cleared up sky coverage in these areas as well as dropped temps a few degrees in the short term based on trends and also for overnight lows given light wind speeds of 5 mph or less.

Elsewhere skies will range from partly to mostly cloudy with the influence of lake effect bands still streaming south out of northern Indiana. Have maintained a small portion of far NE counties in scattered light showers/sprinkles overnight based on current trends and recent CAM guidance. Where the clouds are expected to hold firm in this area have bumped up low temps to around 40F.

DISCUSSION (This evening through Friday)

Issued at 206 PM EST Fri Nov 6 2026

Rest of This Afternoon through Saturday...

Some patchy light rain continues across portions of the eastern forecast area early this afternoon. Some additional lake enhanced showers were across northern Indiana, moving southeast. Will keep some low PoPs going this afternoon, mainly northeast. By evening, flow will have changed enough that odds of lake enhanced showers entering the forecast area will be too low to mention.

Drier air continues to erode the clouds across the western and far northern forecast area. This trend will continue through the afternoon. Additional clouds were drifting south from Lake Michigan. The end result by late afternoon will mostly clear to partly cloudy across the southwest half of the area with partly to mostly cloudy northeast half.

Tonight into Saturday morning, additional forcing and moisture wrapping around an upper low will keep a cloud deck across the northeast half or so of the forecast area, making skies partly to mostly cloudy. To the southwest, skies will be mostly clear to partly cloudy. These conditions will allow the southwest half to end up a little cooler than the northeast half tonight. Lows southwest will be around 30 with lower 30s northeast.

Saturday afternoon, the upper low will move east, taking the lower clouds with it. However, some high clouds will move in from the west. Highs will be in the lower 50s. If lower clouds take longer to exit or higher clouds are thicker than expected, readings could be a few degrees cooler.

Sunday through Wednesday...

Central Indiana will remain in northwest flow aloft through Wednesday, between upper systems moving to the north and south of the area. Any forcing that does sneak into the area won't have any moisture to work with, so will go dry through Wednesday. Temperatures will moderate into the lower and middle 60s by Tuesday, but some slightly cooler air will move in for Wednesday, but highs will still be around 60 to the lower 60s.

Thursday and Friday...

An upper trough will bring in cooler air to the end of next week. It may squeeze out some light rain on Thursday. Highs will be in the 50s, with lows returning to near freezing.

AVIATION (00Z TAF Issuance)

Issued at 543 PM EST Fri Nov 6 2026

Impacts:

- None

Discussion:

VFR ceilings between 035 and 040 remain at KIND and KLAF. These ceilings will gradually shift eastward through 06Z as low level flow veers to more NW in that layer. KBMG and KHUF have recently cleared out, but it does look like at least scattered to briefly broken clouds will return to KBMG for a time this evening before similarly diminishing by 06Z. For the remainder of the night expect either SKC at KBMG/KHUF to scattered to few VFR ceiling at KIND/KHUF as lake effect cloud band remains visible on the distant horizon. NW winds will continue to gradually diminish overnight ranging from 3-6 kts.

On Saturday, residual lake effect low clouds nearby KLAF/KIND are expected to diminish by late morning with arrival of mid-high level clouds. Winds will remain NW with a slight turn to W-NW as surface high pressure centered over the MS valley slowly moves east. Winds will pick up some during peak afternoon heating (17-21Z), but should remain at or below 10 kts.

IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.