FXUS63 KIND 190227 AFDIND Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Indianapolis IN 1027 PM EDT Wed Mar 18 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Low rain chances late tonight into early Thursday morning northeast - Above normal temperatures return late week into the weekend && .FORECAST UPDATE... Issued at 1027 PM EDT Wed Mar 18 2026 Clouds are starting to move back in as moisture increases ahead of the next system. Only minor adjustments were needed for the forecast to better match current observations, otherwise it is in good shape. Still watching for a chance of rain clipping the NE counties early in the morning. Otherwise expect lighter winds overnight and increasing cloud coverage with lows in the mid to upper 30s. && .SHORT TERM (This evening through Thursday)... Issued at 321 PM EDT Wed Mar 18 2026 A fairly quiet evening is in the offing for central Indiana as high pressure nudges into the area. The low clouds are steadily eroding/pushing eastward, which will allow for a relatively clear evening across the area, before additional high cloud and then mid cloud moves in late with a weak upper level disturbance. Mid and upper levels will moisten up associated with this, hence the increased cloud cover late tonight into early tomorrow, but the low levels remain substantially dry. Will carry some low PoPs in the northeast late tonight into Thursday morning, but amounts, if any measurable, will be quite minimal. Skies should clear relatively quickly by the afternoon, which along with increased low level thicknesses will allow temperatures to recover from morning lows in the 30s to around 40 to afternoon highs in the upper 50s to mid to upper 60s across the area. && .LONG TERM (Thursday night through Wednesday)... Issued at 321 PM EDT Wed Mar 18 2026 Though the pattern will largely remain characterized by a substantial western/southwestern CONUS ridge and northwest or at least WNW flow aloft, substantially warmer conditions are expected, particularly during the first half of the long term period or through the coming weekend, as the ridge flattens a bit and nudges eastward, and significant low level warm advection occurs. Temperatures should near or exceed the 70 degree mark each day Friday through Saturday, with 80 degree readings not entirely out of the question south late in the weekend. This will be accompanied by dry conditions for the most part, save for a low chance for showers Sunday into Sunday night as a front sinks through the area and brings temps back down to nearer normal at least briefly early next week. High pressure over the Gulf will limit moisture availability, thus the lower PoPs. The cooldown should be relatively brief, as the western ridge restrengthens and nudges even a bit further eastward toward the end of the period next week. && .AVIATION (00Z TAF Issuance)... Issued at 811 PM EDT Wed Mar 18 2026 Impacts: - Winds shifting from SW to more easterly by the end of the period Discussion: VFR conditions expected throughout the period. Skies will start off mostly clear before moisture ahead of the next system brings BKN clouds overnight and should last through tomorrow. Winds will be weakening shortly after sunset and should stay below 5 to 7 kts. Wind direction will start off from the SW, become southerly overnight and into the afternoon then finally shifting to out of the east. There could be periods of light and variable winds and even calm at times, particularly at the outlying sites. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ UPDATE...KF SHORT TERM...Nield LONG TERM...Nield AVIATION...KF