INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Near record heat will continue for the rest of the week, with no relief from the dry spell in the coming days.
Today:
Air quality alerts are in place across central and southern portions of the state as elevated ozone levels have expanded northward. Use caution if you are sensitive to these conditions and have breathing issues, especially during the peak heating hours of the afternoon.
The weather will remain sunny, hot, and dry, with high temperatures reaching the upper 80s and lower 90s across Central Indiana.
The fire risk remains elevated due to the dry conditions. Fortunately, light winds should prevent the fire risk from increasing further for now. Many counties, especially in the southern and western parts of the state, have burn bans in place.
Tonight:
Expect clear to partly cloudy skies overnight with quiet conditions. Overnight lows will fall to around 60°F in the metro area and the mid to upper 50s in outlying areas.
Late week:
The omega blocking pattern will persist through the end of the week, keeping conditions hot and dry. High temperatures are expected to reach 90°F on both Thursday and Friday. The record high for Thursday is 95°F, set in 1953, and the record for Friday is 93°F, set in 1940.
This weekend:
The blocking pattern will weaken over the weekend, leading to a couple of changes for Central Indiana. First, temperatures will become slightly cooler but remain well above average. Highs on Saturday will reach the mid-80s, likely continuing into Sunday.
Second, there is a chance for showers as early as Sunday afternoon and evening. The threat is relatively low at this time, but it opens the door to increased rain chances heading into next week.
Rain chances next week?
Increasing moisture and a cold front will bring better chances for scattered showers and thunderstorms to start the week. Temperatures will remain above average but not as hot as what we’re currently experiencing across Central Indiana.
Seven-day rainfall estimates suggest that much of Central Indiana could receive between a quarter and a half inch of rainfall, with slightly higher amounts in isolated spots. While we need much more, this will help alleviate the ongoing drought conditions to some extent.
