textproduct: Indianapolis

KEY MESSAGES

- Cold and mostly cloudy today. Flurries likely to continue for the NE half of the forecast area through around sunset

- Wind gusts of 20-30 mph possible through sunset

- Next round of precipitation Wednesday night into Thursday with light snow accumulation possible in northern portions of the area

- Warmer late week with anther cold front expected by this weekend

SHORT TERM (This evening through Tuesday)

Issued at 301 PM EST Mon Feb 23 2026

Lake enhanced flurries are expected to continue through sunset, mainly across NE half of the forecast area. While minimal accumulations are expected, the gusty nature may slightly lower visibilities within stronger bursts of flurries. Tight pressure gradients aloft, on the backside of a strong low pressure system over New England is allowing northwesterly gusts of up to 25-30 mph this afternoon which are also expected to last through around sunset. With these gusts, wind chills will largely be in the teens. Surface high pressure will then pass through central Indiana tonight dropping winds nearer to 5 mph as the direction shifts to out of the south. Going into the day Tuesday, the southerly flow will provide WAA and temperatures should warm into the 40s for much of the area. However, another gusty day is in store for tomorrow as another low pressure system approaches the upper Great Lakes again forming a jet aloft that will bring another day of gusty winds up to around 25 mph for Tuesday midday into the evening. Unfortunately, this means that despite the slightly warmer temps tomorrow, wind chills will still make it feel like it'll be in the 20s.

LONG TERM (Tuesday night through Monday)

Issued at 301 PM EST Mon Feb 23 2026

A weak cold front passing through the area Tuesday night may produce a few mixed rain or snow showers, however Wednesday night into Thursday looks to be the most substantial chance for precipitation during the long term period.

A borderline thermodynamic profile and model discrepancies make for significant uncertainty with respect to types and possible amounts during this time frame, but even if light snow accumulation does occur, high temperatures in the 40s to low 50s Wednesday, very borderline lows (particularly from Indy southward) Wednesday night, and highs Thursday recovering back into the upper 30s to mid 40s should help to mitigate substantial impact through warmer ground surfaces. Nevertheless, cannot completely rule out some minor impacts to the Thursday morning commute, and this will bear monitoring.

Much of the remainder of the long term looks warm and dry, with highs by Friday pushing the low 60s across southern parts of the area with the upper level pattern becoming more zonal. There does appear to be some potential for another brief shot of cooler air late in the weekend into early next week, which may be accompanied by another chance for precip. Type will be a bit in question here as well, but for the moment substantial amounts do not appear likely.

AVIATION (18Z TAF Issuance)

Issued at 1255 PM EST Mon Feb 23 2026

Impacts:

- Light snow showers or flurries, mainly at LAF and IND through much of the day, brief MVFR may be possible with heavier bursts of flurries

- Northwesterly wind gusts to 25kts at times through 00Z, gusts pick back up tomorrow out of the south

Discussion:

Lake enhanced snow flurries possible through much of the day, mainly at LAF and IND. Over the first few hours of the period, those locations may see brief MVFR conditions in heavier bursts of flurries. Otherwise, VFR expected through the period.

Northwesterly winds will continue to gust upwards of 25 to potentially 30kts at times through the day today with the most frequent gusts through the early afternoon. Winds will drop off significantly overnight and become southerly. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected to pick back up by tomorrow afternoon.

IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.