Lafayette, Indiana 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

696
FXUS63 KIND 261949
AFDIND

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
249 PM EST Mon Jan 26 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Blowing and drifting snow, especially in rural areas, possible
  tonight into Tuesday morning

- Extreme Cold Warning tonight with wind chills between -20 to -25
  degrees

- Dangerous wind chills through at least Friday

&&

.SHORT TERM (This evening through Tuesday)...
Issued at 248 PM EST Mon Jan 26 2026

Skies have cleared behind yesterday`s storm system as surface high
pressure passes closely to our southwest. The high quickly skirts
south of us with southwesterly winds returning by tonight. Further
north, a weak clipper zips eastward over the northern Great Lakes
tonight. A tightening MSLP gradient between the two will allow for a
potent low-level jet to develop overnight.

With relatively clear skies currently overhead, we`ll see a brief
period of efficient radiative cooling right after sunset. Low
temperatures tonight likely occur before midnight before SW winds
and clouds begin to increase. Expect lows between 0 to -5 with
locally colder readings. Wind chills down to -20 to -25 are possible
before a gradual warming trend begins late in the night. As such, an
Extreme Cold Warning will remain in effect tonight.

Despite the potency of the LLJ, the upstream air mass is still very
cold along with a deep snowpack extending all the way back to Texas.
Therefore, even though high temperatures tomorrow may be 10 to 20
degrees warmer than the previous day...they will still be very cold.
Highs in the upper teens to low 20s are about as warm as we`ll see.
The clipper`s attendant cold front arrives late morning or early
afternoon, which puts an end to the brief warm up. Clouds associated
with the clipper begin to dissipate during the afternoon as well.

Another period of efficient radiative cooling is likely tomorrow
night into Wednesday morning. This time, it will last through the
night allowing temperatures to cool to well-below zero. Widespread
lows of near -10 are possible, especially in rural areas. Locally
colder readings as low as -15 to -20 cannot be ruled out...though
these readings would likely be outliers.

&&

.LONG TERM (Tuesday night through Monday)...
Issued at 248 PM EST Mon Jan 26 2026

Ensemble guidance is in good agreement showing continued east coast
troughing with persistent northwesterly flow aloft. Occasional
clipper systems passing to our north may allow for brief periods of
SW return flow, but little in the way of temperature relief is
expected. A strongly negative Arctic Oscillation and positive
Pacific North American pattern add weight to the continuation of the
current weather pattern.

Our primary weather hazard through the coming week will be the cold.
Daily highs well below freezing are expected, with lows at or just
below zero each night through the weekend. Combined with winds,
nightly wind chills of -10 to -20 are possible.

The coldest in terms of ambient air temperatures looks to be
Wednesday morning. Surface high pressure, clear skies, relatively
light wind and a deep snowpack will create optimal radiative cooling
conditions. Lows between -10 to -15 degrees are possible, especially
in rural areas. Another strong surface high arrives later in the
weekend which may allow for another period of very cold ambient air
temperatures.

A potent upper trough looks to drop southward out of Canada this
week into the early weekend. This may allow for a period of
scattered flurries or snow showers at times Wednesday through
Friday. Significant amounts are not expected, as these snow showers
appear light and scattered in nature.

Day 8-14: peeking beyond the Long Range we see good ensemble
agreement on a continuation of our current pattern. Additionally,
the global teleconnections above remain in their current phase
through early February with good ensemble agreement as well. The
combination of negative AO and positive PNA favors troughing over
the eastern US. As such, below-normal temperatures likely continue
into early February.

&&

.AVIATION (18Z TAF Issuance)...
Issued at 1238 PM EST Mon Jan 26 2026

Impacts:

- Brief period of LLWS tonight 06z-11z
- SW gusts up to 20-30 kt late tonight through tomorrow morning
- MVFR ceilings on Tuesday
- Blowing snow at times this morning and tonight

Discussion:

Skies have cleared with surface high pressure passing just to our
south. Upstream, a fast-moving but weak storm system will pass to
our north overnight. In response, winds increase out of the SW
tonight leading to LLWS between 06z-11z and then gusty surface winds
afterward. Wind gusts between 20-30kt are likely Tuesday morning.
Patchy blowing snow is possible at times tonight into Tuesday.

Clouds increase again ahead of the approaching system after about
00z this evening. Mid/high-level clouds arrive first followed by low
stratus towards morning Tuesday. A period of MVFR ceilings is
expected before a clearing trend begins late Tuesday.


&&

.IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Cold Weather Advisory until 7 PM EST this evening for INZ021-
028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072.

Cold Weather Advisory from 9 AM to noon EST Tuesday for INZ021-
028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072.

Extreme Cold Warning from 7 PM this evening to 9 AM EST Tuesday
for INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Eckhoff
LONG TERM...Eckhoff
AVIATION...Eckhoff