Storms Friday early evening, more scattered activity later
Unstable air and summer-like humidity with dew points near 70° bring scattered to numerous thunderstorms in portions of Central Indiana. Frequent cloud-to-ground lightning, gusty winds and pea-sized hail have come from these storms. As this initial line gets through here, more activity is likely anytime after 9-10 p.m. and diminishing before Midnight.
Legends Day and the 500 Festival Parade: WINNER!
A break from the active weather is expected for Saturday. Great weather for the 500 Festival parade in downtown Indianapolis and Legends Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Skies will clear through the morning. The muggy dew points will drop as a brief bout of cooler northwest flow returns.
Highs Saturday in the upper 70s to lower 80s with dew points hovering in the mid-50s.
Race Day Sunday: Showers and Storms still likely
Showers and thunderstorms are still in play for our Race Day Sunday forecast. We are continuing to refine the timing. The forecast cluster of showers and storms will be in Central Illinois by daybreak. For us here in Central Indiana, that could be the first round of storms for the day.
The thinking is that these storms late morning but in perhaps a weakening/diminishing intensity as they sweep East through Indiana. Precise timing is still TBD but we feel in the wake of the morning storms, there will be rain-free hours where the race can be run.
If the break is extended, the atmosphere may be allowed to become unstable once again especially if we break into sunshine. That would foster another round of heavy storms by evening, which could be severe. All modes of severe weather are possible. We will continue fine-tuning this in the hours ahead.
Cooling down after Memorial Day
Following a busy Sunday, scattered showers are possible Memorial Day and into early Tuesday. After that, some well-deserved sunshine and slightly cooler temperatures are on tap for Central Indiana. Highs near 70° and chilly lows in the 40s for Wednesday and Thursday nights.
