


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Northern Indiana
Issued by NWS Northern Indiana
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
203 FXUS63 KIWX 121035 AFDIWX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Northern Indiana 635 AM EDT Sat Jul 12 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - A few showers and storms possible early this morning across NW Indiana and SW Lower Michigan. - Scattered thunderstorms are expected to redevelop today, with the greatest coverage expected in the 3pm to 9pm EDT timeframe. - The most favored locations for isolated strong to severe storms are east of Interstate 69 and possibly extending into northwest/west central Indiana south of US Route 24. The primary threats are isolated damaging wind gusts and locally heavy rainfall. - Hot and humid today with peak afternoon heat indices of 95 to 100, especially east of Interstate 69. Uncertainty in thunderstorm timing/coverage leads to some lower confidence with hourly temperatures/heat index trends this afternoon. - Brief shot of dry and less humid weather Monday, but heat is expected to return by Tuesday and Wednesday. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 328 AM EDT Sat Jul 12 2025 Many of the forecast thoughts regarding convective/heat potential remain intact this morning. Much of the local area remains in Slight Risk for severe storms in SPC Day 1 Outlook, with primary concerns on isolated damaging wind gusts and a potential of some localized flooding. MCS across western Great Lakes was not able to make much eastward progress last evening through the early overnight hours this morning before decaying. The downstream mid/upper level ridge has been quite stubborn and was likely aided in its strength by its proximity to upstream convection across the western Great Lakes. A few showers and storms have attempted to develop over the past hour along a residual outflow boundary across northwest Indiana and would suspect that this potential will continue eastward into SW Lower MI/NW Indiana early this morning. MCV likely associated with decaying N IL convection should lift northeast and shear out this morning which could help to take this weak sfc trough/outflow boundary eastward across northern Indiana through early afternoon. Cannot rule out some isolated convection as this occurs given ongoing strong low level moisture transport across the region. The primary concern remains this afternoon/evening for stronger storms. The aforementioned sheared vort max/remnant outflow associated with decaying northern IL convection could be a focal point for isolated-scattered storms into early this afternoon. Another feature to watch is a mid/upper level trough across northern Missouri, which appears to have some interior PV anomaly enhanced from strong convection over the past 12 to 18 hours. The eastward progression of this feature across northwest IN/northwest OH into early evening may be the primary area of greater convective coverage this afternoon. HREF mean still keeps primary instability axis across NE IN/NW Ohio where eastward progressing axis of pooled low level moisture in pre-frontal area and warmer low level temps will maximize instability (2-3000 J/kg). Deep layer shear profiles are quite weak, and generally westward displaced (in closer proximity to the incoming MO short wave) from better instability across eastern portions of the forecast area by later this afternoon. The concern remains for isolated-scattered strong wind gusts in this setup with some potential of a few wet microbursts given high low level theta-e air and steep 0-2km lapse rates maximizing along and east of the I-69 corridor this afternoon. RAP DCAPE progs do suggest an axis of 1200-1500 J/kg values shifting east of I-69 this afternoon which could support a few precip loaded stronger downdrafts. Greatest severe potential should reside in the 18Z-00Z timeframe, but given marginal shear setup, expecting a primarily multicell setup to limit severe coverage. One item that may need to be watched today is possibility that some isolated severe potential could evolve far southwest portions of the CWA depending on evolution/timing of the MO wave, and if sufficient destabilization can occur ahead of this feature. While shear profiles will be weak, uniform southwesterly flow of around 20 knots should provide some storm movement to mitigate higher end flood concerns, but high PWATS and some training in this unidirectional flow environment is possible that could lead to isolated flooding. The other item of concern for today is the increased heat/humidity. Primary pre-frontal thermal ridge should advect into far NE IN/NW Ohio this afternoon. Convective initiation may be a bit more delayed across NW Ohio which should allow at least some mid-upper 90s heat indices. Given mid-late afternoon increase in convective chances, did not have the confidence to hoist any heat headlines at this time. Multicell clusters will likely diminish across the east this evening with some potential of isolated-scattered showers and storms developing along the primary cool front across the northwest. Migration of best low level moisture into eastern portions of forecast area by this time and northeast ejection of better upper support from Upper Midwest forcing should limit coverage however. Not much change to the forecast for Sunday with less humid conditions for the bulk of the area and enough suppression of frontal boundary by this time to keep bulk of shower/storm chances south/southeast of the local area. The break in the hot and humid conditions early week will be short lived as mid/upper level heights recover by Tuesday/Wednesday downstream of an active short wave pattern from Pacific NW into the Northern Plains. Some return warm frontal forcing could provide chances of showers and storms again by later Tuesday/early Wednesday followed by a possible broader synoptic cool front late work week with additional storm chances. However, given low amplitude nature to this pattern, confidence in temperature forecast and duration of cool air intrusions for Thursday and beyond is a bit on the low side given region could be positioned in fairly strong low level baroclinic zone under this flow pattern. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 635 AM EDT Sat Jul 12 2025 Weak shortwave and associated frontal boundary will approach the area later today and support SCT convection commensurate with diurnal destabilization. Hi-res CAM`s still show a fair amount of spread in timing and coverage given weak and delayed forcing. However, confidence is increasing that KSBN will be missed by any afternoon storms and the best chances for KFWA will be roughly 20-00Z. Will hold with a PROB30 at KFWA though given lingering timing uncertainty. Otherwise VFR expected to prevail. && .IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IN...None. OH...None. MI...None. MARINE...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...Marsili AVIATION...AGD