(INDIANAPOLIS) — Central Indiana is closing out April with a stretch of below-average temperatures, which is expected to continue into the first weekend of May.

Cooler Pattern Settles In

A big pattern flip has locked in much cooler temperatures across the eastern half of the country. This will keep temperatures well below average for this time of year.

Look for a mixture of sun and clouds today, with high temperatures reaching the upper 50s and lower 60s — nearly 10° below average.

A weak disturbance will roll through overnight into early Friday morning, bringing a few spotty light showers to start the day Friday. Rainfall amounts should be minimal. The rain will exit by mid-morning, leaving us mostly sunny to partly cloudy and cool, with highs only in the mid and upper 50s.

Frost Chances This Weekend

The coldest stretch of the period arrives Friday night through Sunday morning, when a couple of rounds of patchy frost are possible.

Lows could dip into the low to mid 30s Friday night into Saturday morning under mainly clear skies and light winds. This setup should allow patchy frost to develop across central Indiana.

Saturday will be cool and dry, with a mix of sun and clouds and highs only in the mid 50s.

Saturday night will be cold again, with lows falling into the low to mid 30s, allowing for more patchy frost in spots.

Temperatures should rebound on Sunday as high pressure slides to the east. Highs will top out in the mid 60s across the region.

Gradual Warm-Up Next Week

We’ll see a brief pattern shift early next week, with temperatures rebounding closer to average for Monday and Tuesday. There will also be a few chances for rain and thunderstorms — though very limited on Monday and only scattered on Tuesday. Wednesday appears to bring the best chance for rain, which could be followed by another shift toward cooler temperatures by the end of next week.