Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Northern Indiana

Current Version |  Previous Version |  Text Only |  Print | Product List |  Glossary Off
Versions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47
-- Remove Highlighting --
-- Discussion containing changed information from previous version are highlighted. --
792 FXUS63 KIWX 231815 AFDIWX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Northern Indiana 215 PM EDT Thu May 23 2024 .KEY MESSAGES...
-- Changed Discussion --
- Driest periods of the holiday weekend look to be through Friday afternoon and again Saturday into early Sunday. - Shower and thunderstorm chances return Friday afternoon end evening with a strong to possible severe storms west of Indiana 15/US 131. - Greater chances for showers and thunderstorms Sunday afternoon and night with both severe storms and possibly heavy rain/hydro issues existing. - Lingering showers may impact activities on Memorial Day and Tuesday.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .DISCUSSION...
-- Changed Discussion --
Issued at 214 PM EDT Thu May 23 2024 An overall active pattern remains in place for the next week or so with a few quiet periods expected in between systems. The first of these us underway with high pressure bringing clear skies and pleasant temperatures/humidity to the area. The first feature to monitor will be an upper level trough that will quickly shift east towards the region to start out the holiday weekend. The trough and associated cold front will spark a line of strong to severe storms across Nebraska later today which will race east and reach western IL sometime during the first part of Friday. From here models diverge on handling of the remnants of the complex as well as potential new development on the cold front. The MCS will likely weaken somewhat as it enters IL, but plenty of sunshine ahead of it and increasing low level moisture should bring in 1K to 2K J/KG of MUCAPE into eastern IL/western IN by late afternoon to support re-intensification with a ramp up in the damaging wind threat if it can organize and possibly be aided by any MCV left over. Equally plausible is complex moves through faster with cloud cover holding on and limiting instability over our area. 500/300 mb jet streak remains to the SW and main trough will eject into WI, limiting overall strength of the line as well. NAM suite and 12Z HRRR remain the most aggressive on severe potential with a pronounced rise/fall couplet in the NAM suggesting strong wind potential. Bit concerned that with the lack of overall stronger wind fields in place (rather weak shear) this could be some convective contamination, but could also be a reflection of an MCV. For the time being, the slight risk for the western half is warranted with a decreasing trend likely to happen with eastern extent (unless the line becomes well established and early enough). Some scattered showers could occur on the cold front itself overnight. Categorical pops were inherited and for now will be maintained for collaboration as well as chance that convection does survive into the area with great enough coverage to warrant it. Saturday and Saturday night will be the nicest of the days for this weekend with a stronger system in the offing for Sunday with some lingering effects into Monday and Tuesday. Strong trough will move towards IL Sunday afternoon, deepening further and closing off an upper low over N WI by 6Z Mon. Low pressure will develop with original model trends track the low across the NW part of our area Sunday night. A few of the 12Z solutions track the sfc low a bit further northwest. Regardless, abundant moisture will be drawn north into the area with increasing instability and shear to bring a risk for not only severe weather (possibly all modes), but also hydro issues. We will continue to monitor trends as models struggling (as expected) with evolution of convection along the warm front and eventual cold front. Clouds may linger on Memorial Day and beyond with the potential for some showers around as the overall trough remains across the region.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
-- Changed Discussion --
Issued at 1243 PM EDT Thu May 23 2024 Straight forward TAFs once again amid high pressure centered over Indiana. Light wind prevails with diurnal cumulus clouds bubbling up as of this writing. In response to an approaching low, wind increases mid-morning Friday followed a chance of -TSRA at KSBN just outside this TAF period.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IN...None. OH...None. MI...None. MARINE...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Fisher AVIATION...Brown