textproduct: Indianapolis

KEY MESSAGES

- Some light rain possible tonight into Friday, mainly north

- Cool temperatures are expected Friday through the weekend, with lows near freezing Saturday night and Sunday night

- Highs return to the 60s early next week

DISCUSSION (This evening through Thursday)

Issued at 202 PM EST Thu Nov 5 2026

Rest of This Afternoon through Friday...

Clouds covered the northwest half or so of the forecast area this afternoon, with mostly clear skies southeast. Under clouds, readings were in the 50s, with 60s in sunshine.

As an upper trough and surface cold front approach the area, the clouds will gradually overspread all of central Indiana into this evening. Best forcing with this system will be north of central Indiana, closer to the heart of the upper system. Moisture isn't great, but the system may be able to squeeze out some light rain as it moves through.

Will generally cap PoPs at the chance category tonight, with the highest PoPs north.

On Friday, colder air flowing in from the northwest will generate some lake enhanced showers across northern Indiana. Some of these may sneak into the far northern forecast area, so will have some low PoPs there. Otherwise, cold advection should aid in keeping skies mostly cloudy.

Lows tonight will be in the 40s, with highs on Friday in the lower 50s thanks to cold advection and lack of significant sunshine.

Saturday onward...

Central Indiana will remain in northwest flow aloft, with upper systems moving well to the north or south of the area. Moisture will be kept south of the area, so any weak forcing that does move into the area will have nothing to work with. Will continue a dry forecast into mid-week next week.

Temperatures will start out cool in the 50s this weekend, but then moderate into the 60s for early next week.

AVIATION (00Z TAF Issuance)

Issued at 619 PM EST Thu Nov 5 2026

Impacts:

- Occasional wind gusts between 18-20kt at KLAF overnight and all terminals Friday late morning and afternoon.

- MVFR conds spread across terminals overnight, with brief IFR vis/ceiling possible at KLAF.

- Drizzle and/or light rain developing this evening becoming VCSH early Friday morning.

Discussion:

Recent radar imagery shows an expansion of very light rain/drizzle occurring over western portions of Indiana, ahead of mid level storm system moving through IL. As a result, drizzle conditions were added through roughly 03Z at all the terminals except KBMG.

In the wake of this initial drizzle/light rain band, a band of light rain will increase in coverage ahead of a cold front that will be pushing southward across the terminals overnight. Roughly a 3 hr window of light rain is expected with ceilings lowering to lower end MVFR. There may even be a brief period of IFR ceilings/vis at KLAF, but confidence wasn't high enough to include with this TAF issuance. Behind the front, winds are expected to gust 15-18kt with the strongest being at KLAF. Shower activity will continue to stream southward from Lk. Michigan in the wake of the front, so have opted to carry VCSH to account for this activity through mid morning.

Ceilings are expected to improve to VFR by late morning with gusty winds from 18-20kt expected during the late morning/early afternoon as breaks in the overcast support greater mixing of stronger winds aloft towards the surface.

IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.