textproduct: Indianapolis

KEY MESSAGES

- There is a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY for the potential of a narrow band of accumulating snow tomorrow over southern portions of the area. Up to 2 inches of snow is possible.

- Below normal temperatures is expected to continue through Sunday.

- Increasing confidence in a warming trend for next week.

SHORT TERM (This evening through Tuesday)

Issued at 252 PM EST Mon Feb 2 2026

Low stratus persists across the region as a weak clipper system departs to our northeast. Rich low-level moisture and broad cyclonic flow should allow stratus to persist into the night. Low temperatures are expected to be much warmer than recent nights, due to cloud cover and weak warm air advection.

Warm air advection continues into Tuesday as yet another system approaches from the west. This system shows up nicely on satellite over the northern Plains and is diving southeast towards Missouri. Guidance shows the parent shortwave de-amplifying with time while interacting with a southern stream trough lifting northeast out of the New Mexico. This interaction allows surface cyclogenesis to begin across southern Missouri, with the resultant low pushing eastward through the Ohio River Valley.

Guidance has been in decent agreement showing mid-level frontogenesis as the low impinges on a quasi-stationary baroclinic zone, allowing for the formation of a narrow band of moderate to heavy snowfall. That said, guidance has trended weaker and further south and east over the past day. This is likely due to a more disorganized / de-amplified initial shortwave. Still, even these weaker solutions do allow for the band to take shape somewhere over the southern / eastern portions of the CWA. The big question is exactly where, because given how narrow the band appears to be...a small difference in location may lead to a large difference in expected snowfall. Additionally, timing of the band matters too, and should it take too long to develop then we may not see much snow at all in central Indiana as the band would then predominately develop east of the area.

Despite the uncertainty, due to the potential for an impactful narrow band of snowfall, we've issued a Winter Weather Advisory for around 2 inches of snow over the southeast corner of our CWA including Bartholomew, Jackson, Jennings, and Decatur Counties. Again, uncertainty is greater than normal for this time range, and total snowfall is subject to the exact location of a narrow band of moderate to heavy snow. A few miles will make a big difference with this event. We will refine the forecast as needed with new data coming in. The current advisory may be trimmed or expanded depending on how things develop. Stay tuned for updates.

LONG TERM (Tuesday night through Monday)

Issued at 252 PM EST Mon Feb 2 2026

The long term will initially be dictated by a continued deep longwave trough over the Eastern CONUS and strong ridging over the Western CONUS. This has placed the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley in modest northwest flow with a baroclinic zone just to our west. In return, the pattern is expected to produce varying temperature swings ranging from highs in the low 20s to low 30s through Sunday.

Precipitation is likely to be below normal for the long term as NW flow continues to reduce return moisture ahead of weak disturbances. The only date with any potential for precipitation looks to be Friday as a low passes to the north of central Indiana. As stated, available moisture will be limited, but there may be enough lift in a semi-saturated 850-700mb layer for a brief period of snow showers within confluence along the passing boundary. For now, PoPs are kept mostly below 15% for Friday due to lack of confidence in measurable precipitation, but this may change in the coming days as high resolution guidance better simulates QPF south of the low.

Beyond Sunday, current teleconnection forecasts are trending towards predominately neutral, leading to a likely pattern change as a strong vort max intersects the ongoing Western CONUS ridge. This should lead to the ridge axis shifting eastward early next week, placing central Indiana in a predominate warming trend. This said, there is still a lot of uncertainty on any large scale disturbances, and how that will impact surface conditions.

AVIATION (18Z TAF Issuance)

Issued at 1238 PM EST Mon Feb 2 2026

Impacts:

- Light snow showers or flurries possible this afternoon - MVFR ceilings persist into tonight - Light snow develops across the region predawn Tuesday, continuing into Tuesday afternoon especially from HUF to IND southward

Discussion:

Light snow has ended this morning as a weak clipper system departs to the east. MVFR ceilings remain, however, and these likely persist into the night. A few pockets of clearing are possible allowing for periodic return to VFR conditions. These breaks will be scattered and difficult to pin point their timing. Additionally, a few light snow showers or flurries are possible this afternoon.

A second weak storm system arrives on Tuesday with light snow once again developing early in the morning. Snowfall may organize into a narrow band, beginning near HUF and IND then dropping south a bit to BMG. Brief moderate snowfall is possible in this band, especially near BMG. Snowfall begins to diminish towards the end of the TAF period.

Winds retain a southwesterly component today before becoming light and variable overnight. As Tuesday's weak system passes east, a switch to northeasterly winds is expected.

IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Winter Weather Advisory from 7 AM to 7 PM EST Tuesday for INZ064- 065-071-072.