Tonight: Most of the rain will be gone after 10 pm tonight, although scattered showers are possible. We expect a low of 44, with winds coming from the E at 5-10 mph. In short, you might need an umbrella for the drive home, and a light jacket for the overnight hours.
Tomorrow: Indiana could see some dangerous conditions tomorrow. A large, low-pressure system will pull lots of warm air and moisture from the south, resulting in highs in the upper-60s. So it will feel warm.
However, the system will also generate lots of rain. The first round of rain will move through the afternoon and evening hours, causing problems with your commute. And this is where things become important: If we see enough clearing in the skies, that might allow more energy to build up, resulting in more powerful rain systems moving in.
After 7 pm, thunderstorms will start rolling into Indiana, and, depending on how much energy there is in the atmosphere, some could produce dangerous conditions. They’ll likely produce damaging gusts – above 35 mph – and lots of rain, with some models suggesting 1+ inches of rain in some areas. That, combined with the rain seen in the afternoon, will likely cause some flooding. While unlikely, it’s even possible for some hail to form, as well as brief tornadoes. Most of that danger will be to the west of us, although we cannot rule out Muncie seeing such potential.
Again, even if we don’t see either of those, definitely expect enough energy in the atmosphere to produce some thunderstorms that pack damaging winds and lots of rain. Make sure to tie down loose objects, be careful when driving, be able to stay alert via a NOAA Weather radio or your phone alerts, and have a plan in place in case something awry happens. We will definitely keep you updated on any potential threats.
7-Day: Scattered showers are possible up until Friday afternoon, when they finally leave. However, a large cold front will sweep in for Friday afternoon and cause temperatures to plummet over the day, before reaching a low of 28.
Saturday and Sunday will continue seeing cool temperatures, with highs in the low- to mid-40s. On the bright side, expect the Sun to occasionally peak through the clouds, leading to a nice day.
After Sunday, expect temperatures to jump back into the mid-50s for next week, along with some scattered showers.
Severe Weather Preparedness Week Topic 3: Response
Let’s say that in the worst-case scenario, something bad does happen and a severe weather event does hit Indiana. What happens?
When a severe weather threat happens, the National Weather Service will continue issuing warnings until the event passes, and dispatch damage survey teams to analyze the damage while looking at spotter reports and damage information. Meanwhile, news media outlets (like 91.3 WCRD) will broadcast any warnings and damage reports, enhance any details on locations threatened and send news crews to report live damage reports.
After a disaster, local officals will coordinate how emergency responders will treat victims and transport them to hospitals, and figure out how to remove debris from roads and restore multiple services, like communications. The Indiana Department of Homeland Security will expand emergency operations and coordinate multiple agency responses, while offering help if the area needs help. As for the American red Cross, it would deploy volunteers to damage areas and provide assistance, such as opening shelters and providing food to the affected.
As for how YOU can respond after a natural disaster, 1) make sure your family is okay. If you need to, get out of where you and your family (including pets) are and go to a shelter. 2) Continue listening to TV or radio in order to stay informed on what to do. 3) Make sure you have a family disaster plan ready to go, and be sure to report any damage to an Indiana Department of Homeland Security website if requested.
In short, everyone has ways of responding to disasters. Make sure you and your family have a plan if necessary, so that if a tornado strikes, you can get out, monitor the situation safely, and go somewhere safe.
