000
FXUS63 KIND 082000
AFDIND

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
400 PM EDT Wed Apr 8 2020

.UPDATE...
The AVIATION Section has been updated below.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 306 PM EDT Wed Apr 8 2020

An active weather pattern will be in place tonight with
widespread thunderstorms and likely severe weather across central
Indiana. A strong upper level low will track across the Great
Lakes region with a surface front providing forcing for
thunderstorms late this evening and tonight. In the aftermath of
the front, much cooler than normal weather will be in place for
much of the next week with chances for rain tomorrow and again
early next week. A few rumbles of thunder will be possible at
times as well.

&&

.NEAR TERM /This Evening and Tonight/...

Issued at 306 PM EDT Wed Apr 8 2020

Not much has changed since the mid-morning update with a
significant risk for severe weather late this evening and tonight,
especially across SW Indiana. A strong upper level low pressure
system is moving across southern Canada with an associated surface
cold front that is expected to pass through central Indiana
tonight. Ahead of the front, a complex of severe thunderstorms is
expected to move through the area between 8 PM and midnight.

Ample forcing will be in place this evening and with 0-6 km shear
in excess of 50 kts and low level helicity in the range of
100-300 m^s/s^s, large hail, damaging winds, and isolated QLCS
tornadoes are possible if not likely across portions of SW
Indiana. The only major inhibitor for severe weather is
instability with ongoing mixing of surface moisture which could
limit the CAPE. Surface mixing will also raise LCLs and help
lessen the tornado risk With that said, low level lapse rates will
be between 8 and 9 C/km which will allow for efficient mixing
down of thunderstorm winds by this evening. Moisture at points
along and north of I-74 will be marginal at best with lower
confidence in severe weather.

All in all, the potential is there for a brief period of
significant severe weather, especially across southwest Indiana
with lower chances the further northeast. As the system progresses
further into Indiana, the risk for hail lessens and the risk for
damaging winds increases.

As we move into the overnight hours, the story changes to the
potential for gusty winds as skies begin to clear. Winds are
likely to gust in excess of 25-30 mph at times with stronger winds
during the day tomorrow. Skies will gradually clear with lows
dropping into the low to mid 40s.

&&

.SHORT TERM /Thursday through Saturday/...

Issued at 306 PM EDT Wed Apr 8 2020

Much of the day tomorrow and through the short term will be dry
and cold with very strong cold air advection in place in the
aftermath of the low pressure system that will bring severe
weather tonight. Strong pressure gradients and mostly clear skies
during the morning hours will allow winds to gust upwards of 30 to
40 mph at times. A few rain showers are possible during the
afternoon hours with a bit of snow and graupel potentially mixing
in across the northern counties as steep low level lapse rates
will allow for effective evaporative cooling.

After tomorrow, the focus then turns to the potential for frosts
and freezes as many of the nights will be dropping into the low to
mid 30s going forward. Thursday night has the potential for a
freeze in spots with clear skies and effective radiational
cooling. Winds will likely remain too high for anything other than
very patchy frost. As we move into Friday night, conditions will
be more favorable and areas to widespread frost are likely.

Highs will range from the upper 40s to low 50s on Thursday and
Friday to the mid to upper 50s on Saturday. Lows will drop into
the low to mid 30s Thursday night and Friday night.

&&

.LONG TERM /Saturday night through Wednesday/...

Issued at 306 PM EDT Wed Apr 8 2020

A cooler than normal pattern continues into the long term period
with northwesterly flow finally breaking by the weekend. Models
and ensembles are showing a stronger and more consistent signal
for rain Sunday night into Monday as an upper level low pressure
system tracks across the Ohio Valley. The heaviest axis of rain
looks to still stay south of the forecast area, but may change as
time moves forward. This system exits the area Monday night with
another shot of cold air and possibly a few snowflakes Monday
night and Tuesday night. Confidence remains very low in this
occurring with medium to high confidence in the need for frost
advisories/freeze warnings at times next week.

Temperatures will be below to much below average for much of the
period.

&&

.AVIATION /Discussion for 08/21Z TAF Update/...

Issued at 359 PM EDT Wed Apr 8 2020

No changes needed for TAF as expectations for this evening have
not changed. Previous discussion follows...


VFR conditions expected outside of any convection.

A line of thunderstorms is expected to bring MVFR to IFR
conditions at times to all terminals this evening. Storms will be
moving in from the NW and impact LAF and HUF first before moving
on to BMG and IND. Tried to narrow the window as much as
confidence allows, but there remains some uncertainty. A brief
period of very strong winds is possible, especially at HUF and
BMG, but confidence in timing is not high enough for an explicit
mention. After convection ends, dry weather is expected through
the end of the period with gusty NW winds approaching 20-25kts.


&&

.IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

$$

SYNOPSIS...White
NEAR TERM...White
SHORT TERM...White
LONG TERM....White
AVIATION...White