Lafayette, Indiana 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

460
FXUS63 KIND 070208
AFDIND

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
908 PM EST Sat Dec 6 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Cloudy this evening

- Chances for flurries or freezing drizzle late tonight and Sunday
  morning. Minimal measurable precipitation expected.

- Additional rain chances are expected Tuesday night through
  Wednesday...with light snow possible Thursday

&&

.FORECAST UPDATE...
Issued at 908 PM EST Sat Dec 6 2025

As of late this evening, temperatures are generally in the upper 20s
to low 30s across central Indiana with sky cover much below what was
previously expected as the low clouds have yet to develop ahead of
the arrival of the wintry system later tonight. This clearing is
helping drive temperatures slightly below what was previously
forecast and may help to push snow as the predominant precipitation
type for much of the overnight hours as more locations drop to the
mid to upper 20s.

The main question will be the presence of ice nucleation within the
cloud layer with soundings further west into Iowa and western
Illinois hinting in a deeper layer of clouds which would be cool
enough for ice nucleation. Thus have trended the forecast into a
more snow solution for much of the overnight hours, especially
across north central Indiana with a wintry mix/freezing rain more
towards the I-70 corridor. After the heavier precipitation there may
be some lingering freezing drizzle as the better forcing exits and
the cloud layer becomes more shallow.

Will continue to monitor the latest observational trends and will
make further updates to the forecast as confidence increases.

&&

.SHORT TERM (This evening through Sunday)...
Issued at 258 PM EST Sat Dec 6 2025

Surface analysis early this afternoon shows a frontal boundary
across NRN Illinois and NRN MO. The front was extending from low
pressure found over South Dakota. Westerly flow was in place across
Indiana amid broad cyclonic flow. Un-organized high pressure was in
place across the deep south. GOES19 shows stratus across Indiana.
Aloft, broad and cold cyclonic flow was in place across the much of
the northern half of the country, due to deep and large low pressure
over Hudson Bay. Water vapor showed Pacific moisture flowing over
the Rockies and Plains states.

Tonight and Sunday morning...

A weak short wave within the flow aloft is expected to pass across
Indiana and the Ohio valley tonight. Forcing appears quite limited
with this feature. Meanwhile within the lower levels the weak
frontal boundary to the north is expected to sag southward across
Central Indiana as the surface low over the South Dakota approaches,
taking a south southeast trajectory. Models suggest plenty of dry
air continues to be available this evening, but as the front and low
arrive in the area overnight, forecast soundings suggest top down
saturation. However, the lower levels appear to fail to become
completely saturated. Moisture is limited as only Pacific moisture
is available due to the blocking high to the south. Thus due to the
limited forcing and moisture along with incomplete lower level
saturation, the ongoing forecast trend for some light freezing
drizzle or flurries, minimally measurable, appears on track. Best
window for this precipitation appears to be late tonight, after
08Z- 10Z through mid morning Sunday. It is during this window that
the best forcing will pass as the surface low pushes across
southern Illinois and KY.

Regarding temperatures clouds and minimal temperature advection will
allow for minimal temperature drops. Lows should fall to the upper
20s to around 30.

Sunday afternoon...

In the wake of the passed surface low and weak upper short wave
subsidence appears to begin as forecast soundings begin to trend
toward a top-down drying. Lower level moisture looks to linger
through much of the day. A strong area of high pressure over the
upper midwest will then begin to settle across Indiana on Sunday
afternoon, leading to ongoing cold air advection and cold north
winds.

Thus we should expect cloudy skies on Sunday afternoon with
temperatures mainly steady in the middle 30s. Colder lows will be
expected on Sunday night.

&&

.LONG TERM (Sunday night through Saturday)...
Issued at 258 PM EST Sat Dec 6 2025

Sunday night through Tuesday...

Broad zonal trough occupying North America...that has brought recent
light to significant snowfalls, and a couple very cold mornings for
the northern Midwest courtesy its lingering snow pack...will allow
at least a brief respite through the early workweek.  Quasi-split
upper flow facilitated by embedded, yet offset short waves
concurrently tracking over southeastern Canada and the Mid
South...will allow surface high pressure to drift east across the
Great Lakes and Midwest through Monday...this, when coupled with a
pause in upstream energy, will promote overall dry conditions
through Tuesday.  Although can not rule out very light mixed
precipitation, trending from rain to flurries, lingering Sunday
night over far southern zones.

Monday will be the visually nicer day with mostly clear skies for
most locations, albeit with temperatures climbing from the teens
into the 20s...with light breezes dropping wind chills down to
around zero north of I-70 early in the day.  Deepening low pressure
across the north-central CONUS will provide a southern Chinook
starting late Monday night, with gusts to around 20 mph only
allowing readings to fall about 10 degrees, yet producing wind
chills down into the single digits for many northern counties.

South-southwesterly wind gusts to increase to 20-30 mph Tuesday as
990 mb surface low spins into the Upper Midwest...bringing a long-
awaited return to low 40s readings for much of the local region
under considerable cloudiness.  If Indianapolis does not exceed 39
degrees through Tuesday...it will tie the second-longest November-
early December period held below 40*F (13 days, last recorded in
1903).

Tuesday night through Saturday...

Mainly light precipitation associated with the northern system`s
cold frontal passage is expected Tuesday night through at least
Wednesday with chances increasing from north to south as the
supporting vort`s tail plunges across the Midwest Wednesday.  Rain
precip type is expected for most of this lighter episode, with
mixing or changeover to light snow/flurries possible as the system
exits east. Attention should be paid to ground temperatures north of
I-70 Tuesday night into Wednesday which may be subfreezing to start
despite air temps approaching 40F.

A transition back to the colder pattern favoring snow/mixed
precipitation types will occur around the Wednesday night timeframe,
with heights dropping ahead of the next, more southern short wave,
that should strengthen while crossing the central US Thursday.  Some
model disagreement on organization/intensity of corresponding
surface low...but appears so far a good shot of light accumulating
snowfall for much of the region Thursday into Thursday night...with
rain possibly mixing over southern zones.  Both snow/mix line and
amount of precipitation may be mostly dependent on proximity of
downstream H500 trough over Quebec, whose wobbling will influence
track and tilt of the central US system.

Workweek to most likely end with a few flurries amid brisk WNW
surface flow holding readings below freezing and wind chills
between zero and 20 degrees. However, bigger story will be the
potential bitter cold to follow through the weekend...with arctic
air under 520 dm H500 low capable of producing widespread single
digits at night, mainly teens maximums....and possibly criteria
wind chill values.

&&

.AVIATION (00Z TAF Issuance)...
Issued at 603 PM EST Sat Dec 6 2025

Impacts:

- MVFR cigs becoming IFR after 08Z
- Wintry mix to bring MVFR to IFR vsbys at times 09Z through 15Z
- Residual lowered vsbys possible through 19Z
- Winds shifting from the east to the south and then west

Discussion:

Cigs will continue to fall across the terminals through 08Z when IFR
conditions will become more frequent. Snow is likely towards LAF as
early as 09Z with freezing drizzle and rain mixing in towards HUF
and IND. This will lead to periods of MVFR to IFR vsbys with some
potential for non-dense fog both before and after the periods of
precipitation. Winds will be variable through the TAF period, mainly
easterly tonight before becoming southerly tomorrow morning and
westerly by the afternoon. Speeds are expected to remain 10kts or
less.


&&

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

$$

UPDATE...White
SHORT TERM...Puma
LONG TERM...AGM
AVIATION...White