Lafayette, Indiana 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

890
FXUS63 KIND 022340
AFDIND

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
640 PM EST Fri Jan 2 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Seasonably cool and dry into the weekend

- Temperatures warming next week to well above normal

- Rain chances return late week with the potential for a stronger
  system Thursday into Friday

&&

.SHORT TERM (This evening through Saturday)...
Issued at 242 PM EST Fri Jan 2 2026

Northwesterly flow aloft persists over the Midwestern US today. Two
shortwave troughs are noted, one embedded within faster upper-level
flow over Minnesota, and another to our south over the lower
Mississippi Valley. These troughs are in the process of phasing,
though that will not occur until well off the east coast. However,
their combined influence will be enough to generate thick cloud
cover tonight into Saturday. No precipitation is expected, however,
as forcing is minimal and displaced to our north and south.

Lows tonight will be moderated by the clouds, with warmer readings
than last night. Most locations should see temps dip into the
low/mid 20s. Surface high pressure builds in Saturday morning, with
clouds gradually clearing as the troughs depart eastward. Winds at
the surface are expected to become light and variable by the end of
the day. Combined with clearing skies, ideal radiative cooling
conditions look to be present Saturday evening. This would lead to a
quick temperature drop shortly after sunset. Lows in the teens are
likely again Saturday night into Sunday, with lows 20s across our
south.

&&

.LONG TERM (Saturday night through Friday)...
Issued at 242 PM EST Fri Jan 2 2026

As mentioned in the short term section, northwesterly flow aloft
persists across the Midwestern US. Ensemble guidance shows a pattern
change next week, however, as troughing develops over the western
states. The first signs of change occur Monday as northwesterly flow
becomes quasi-zonal for a brief period of time. A system embedded
within this flow looks to pass to our north, with strong warm air
advection along and south of its track. This is the beginning of a
prolonged warming trend which is expected to last through much of
the coming week.

No precipitation is expected with the Monday system, since it is
passing far enough to our north to limit available forcing.
Additionally, the system itself is rather weak...more akin to a
clipper with the majority of its precip along and north of the
system track. Aside from warming temps, Indiana can expect a period
of breezy conditions as the MSLP gradient tightens as the system
passes by. Guidance is hinting at a second weak system zipping by to
our north on Tuesday. Like the previous system, limited impacts are
anticipated aside from warmer temps and potentially breezy
conditions.

By late week, the western trough begins ejecting eastward into the
Plains. Guidance is honing in on a potentially strong and impactful
system developing in response. There remains uncertainty within
guidance, however. Uncertainty arises from how the trough ejects.
Currently, most guidance is depicting a positively tilted trough
pushing eastward, with periodic cyclogenesis occurring over the
Plains. This results in multiple weaker lows developing in
succession while moving northeastward. Some guidance shows more
consolidated development with a single dominant low lifting
northeastward.

As such, confidence in details such as precipitation amounts and
timing remain low. Confidence is greatest regarding above-average
temperatures, since most scenarios result in warm air lifting
northward readily. Additionally, the majority of guidance shows the
most likely storm track/tracks to our northwest.

&&

.AVIATION (00Z TAF Issuance)...
Issued at 638 PM EST Fri Jan 2 2026

Impacts:

- Brief MVFR possible later tonight at/near KIND

Discussion:

Late day MVFR stratus recently scattered out at KLAF, leaving VFR
over all central Indiana terminals.  Low confidence in MVFR ceilings
returning later tonight near KIND and possibly KLAF. VFR is expected
to otherwise prevail through Saturday evening.

Weak and disorganized disturbances plunging slightly from central
Plains to TN Valley will provide thickening high/mid cloud through
much of the TAF period, before clearing from west to east Saturday
afternoon.

Winds from mainly 020-050 degrees through 18Z sustained at 7KT or
less.  Winds to back to north-northwesterly while diminishing late
Saturday.

&&

.IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None.
&&

$$

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