Hurry, look outside!

It's raining in Bloomington!

We're under a heat advisory until 9:00pm. A high of 96 degrees today. Stay hydrated. After that, temperatures slowly cool off with a high of 81 and a low of 59 on Saturday. Today through Friday are our best chances for rain. Here's what the NWS has to say:

.Forecast Update...
Issued at 1034 AM EDT Wed Jul 6 2022

Forecast concerns today will be (1) spatial extent of dangerous heat
and any necessary adjustments to the Heat Advisory, (2) coverage of
thunderstorms late this morning into the afternoon, (3) potential
for severe storms.

Adjustments late this morning were mainly based on observational
trends to align the highest precipitation probabilities with initial
activity seen on radar from near Sheridan to Lebanon to Greencastle.
This is occurring along a subtle differential mixing boundary as a
very moist PBL is heated. As further heating ahead of this
convection and weak southwest-northeast oriented boundary occurs
across the rest of central Indiana occurs, coverage is likely to
increase. Further south, subtle convergence boundaries are
inferred in the observations and initial growth of patches of
cumulus probably indicates enhanced areas of PBL moisture and signal
where at least isolated to scattered convection may form by midday
as convective temperatures are reached.

Flow is weak and organized/sustained cells are unlikely. Instability
is expected to be moderate to strong this afternoon and could
support intense updrafts which upon collapse could result in
damaging winds and perhaps some hail (mostly sub-severe size).
The best chance of slightly more organized storms could come
from initial development now seen in central Illinois, if a robust
enough cold pool can form. If a relatively concentrated cluster/MCS
evolves it would track east-southeast generally south of roughly I-
70 through the afternoon.

Heat is the other concern. Clouds and convection should limit the
northward extend of the more dangerous heat (i.e., 105F heat index
values). The best chance of dangerous heat will be midday into early
afternoon, generally south of a Terre Haute to Franklin to
Rushville line. Once thunderstorm coverage increases and cold pools
develop, the dangerous heat index values will diminish at least
locally. We will keep the current configuration of the Heat Advisory
for now.

&&

.Short Term...(Today through Thursday)
Issued at 251 AM EDT Wed Jul 6 2022

Highlights:

- Hot and Humid; Heat index values above 100

- Periodic chances for thunderstorms, some could be severe

Today...

Central Indiana will remain to the NE of a stagnant mid level high
for the entirety of the short term. This will help keep a very warm
and humid airmass over the region. In the upper levels, a modest jet
is positioned just to the north, aiding in cyclogenesis along the
periphery of the mid level high. These waves are the main culprit of
continuous MCSs observed across the Midwest and Ohio Valley this
week, and will continue to create chances for thunderstorms today
through tomorrow.

Most of central Indiana has unfortunately remained mostly dry
through the early part of this week, reinforcing the ongoing drought
conditions. This should change through the end of short term as an
elongated boundary finally reaches central Indiana this morning,
providing a source of lift for thunderstorms to develop. This
boundary looks to slowly progress through beginning this morning
over northern central Indiana. Convective temperatures likely wont
be reached until around noon today, placing convective initiation
along the primary boundary somewhere around the I-70 corridor.
Convective development will be possible elsewhere, as weak remnant
outflow boundaries from prior day convection will be lingering over
and near the outlying region.

Temperatures should vary over the state due to where and when
convection occurs. Current consensus points towards a return of
upper 90s over SW central Indiana, with low to mid 90s elsewhere.
Dewpoints will be high yet again across the state ranging from the
mid to low 70s. For these reasons, a heat advisory has been kept
over SW central Indiana this afternoon and evening, where heat
index values are expected to exceed 105.

With wishes of precipitation comes some risk as severe wind gusts
and large hail as well as isolated flooding will be possible
within thunderstorms late this morning into the afternoon and
evening. The main culprit for severe weather potential is the
highly unstable environment. Lapse rates near 7 C/km in the mixed
layer with mid 70 dew points will lead to early morning CAPE
greater than 2000 J/kg. As surface temps warm, instability will
rise topping out between 3000-4000 this afternoon. Shear will be
weak, but some low level veering and broad 30-40 kt mid level flow
shouldn`t hinder severe potential too much. Current forecast
soundings indicate around 30kts of effective bulk shear available
for afternoon thunderstorms.

Also of note is high moisture contentin the lowest 2km layer is
currently, which will lead to intense rain rates within
thunderstorms. Surrounding offices to the N/E have decided to
issue a Flood Watch for this morning into the afternoon. For now,
central Indiana will not be under a flood watch due to a
combination of low confidence in where CI will be located this
afternoon and the fact that central Indiana has been abnormally
dry for nearly a month. More consideration will be had later this
morning as confidence grows in where the boundary will stall over
central Indiana.

Tonight and Tomorrow...

Yet another MCS may track southeast along the instability axis
tonight, with continued caveats that prior day convection will play
a large role in if the environment will be conducive to convection.
The track for this MCS is still uncertain, but current thoughts are
for this system to progress ESE over north central to east central
Indiana. Any rain that falls this morning/afternoon will further
exacerbate any concern for flooding, and will be looked at closely
during the 4PM update. In general temperatures will be warm with high
humidity again tomorrow. This will once again lead to instability
over the area, but with not obvious source of lift, confidence in
where if any convection will occur is low.

&&

.Long Term...(Thursday night through Tuesday)
Issued at 251 AM EDT Wed Jul 6 2022

- Storm chances on Friday
- Dry and cooler summer weather this weekend
- Light shower/storm chances return by Tuesday

Thursday Night through Friday Night...

The persistent NW flow aloft is suggested to continue on Thursday
night and Friday as strong ridging remains in place over the western
plains. A short wave within this flow is expected to push across
northern Indiana on Friday. Given our warm and humid air mass in
place across Central Indiana, another round of showers and
thunderstorms will be expected. Furthermore, models suggest a
surface warm front will be pushed south across Central Indiana as
strong high pressure over the Great Lakes builds southward. Forecast
soundings during this time show a saturated column with continued
high pwats over 2.00 inches. Drying and subsidence within the column
looks to arrive late Friday Night, in the wake of the front. Thus
will continue high pop chances, especially on Friday and Friday
Night as the front passes.

Saturday Through Monday...

Models suggest continued NW flow aloft with a weak ridge axis within
the flow aloft passing across Central Indiana on Sunday. The
continued persistent NW flow will be a result of strong high
pressure aloft over the American SW with ridging stretching north
through the Rockies. Things will be different this time within the
lower levels. A strong and elongated area of high pressure is
expected to settle across the Great Lakes. As the previous cold
front is expected to progress to the deep south by Sunday, a E-NE
surface flow from the high will be present across Central Indiana,
bringing dry and cooler continental flow to our state. Forecast
soundings show a very dry column in place through Monday with
unreachable convective temperatures. Thus will aim for just partly
cloudy skies during this time with gradually warming temperatures
due to the high progressing east and the eventual start of warmer
return southerly flow.

Tuesday...

Within the NW flow on Tuesday, models show a short wave pushing out
of the upper midwest and across the Great Lakes. Best forcing at
this point looks to remain well north of Central Indiana. However,
warmer and more humid air will be in place across our area due to
the high well to the east at this point and southerly gulf flow in
place. Forecast soundings continue to show a dry column on Tuesday,
but convective temps in the lower 90s are suggested which may be
reached. Thus some chc pops on Tuesday seems warranted given these
features in play.