Rain Showers Expected Wednesday; First Snow of the Season Arrives Thursday | Nov. 20, 2024

INDIANAPOLIS — Seasonable temperatures are returning, but the coldest air since March is set to arrive with snow on Thursday.

This morning:

We woke up to sharply colder temperatures this morning, with readings mainly in the mid-40s across central Indiana. A weak weather system moving into Illinois is bringing light rain our way, while another blast of colder air from the northern Plains is also approaching.

Wednesday:

Cloud cover will thicken throughout the morning, and a brief band of showers is expected from mid to late morning. Rainfall amounts should range between a tenth and a quarter of an inch before we dry out in the afternoon. Expect seasonable highs around 50°F, though it will be breezy with wind gusts reaching 30 to 35 mph.

Wednesday night:

Overnight, mostly cloudy skies will prevail along with scattered light rain showers. As temperatures drop close to freezing, some rain may mix with snow or transition fully to snow by daybreak on Thursday. Accumulation will likely be light due to warm ground temperatures, possibly resulting in a quick dusting to half an inch primarily on grassy and elevated surfaces. For those commuting Thursday morning, be prepared for potentially slick spots on bridges and overpasses.

Lows overnight are expected to hover near freezing.

Snow Thursday:

On Thursday morning, scattered light snow showers will begin moving southeastward. While impacts on the morning commute should remain minor, watch out for patchy slick areas that could make driving challenging during the first snowfall of the year.

A second round of more intense precipitation is anticipated by mid to late afternoon. This could bring heavier snowfall at times mixed with rain. Given sufficient snowfall rates, we might see accumulations of one to two inches in some areas, with locally higher amounts possible.

Regardless of exact accumulations sticking around, expect enough snowfall throughout the day to create messy road conditions for evening travel—so plan accordingly.

The overall feel will be wintry as high temperatures struggle into the mid-30s. Coupled with gusty winds, wind chills may linger in the mid-20s for much of the day.

Friday:

Friday promises a cloudy day with spotty chances of rain—particularly in eastern parts of the state—with high temperatures reaching only into the low to mid-40s.

This weekend:

The weekend forecast looks brighter as temperatures improve. Saturday should bring partly cloudy skies and highs in the upper 40s—close to average for this time of year—and Sunday’s highs could jump back into the mid-50s.

Next week:  

A warming trend is expected as we approach holiday week next week. High temperatures may flirt with 60°F on Monday and settle into the mid-50s by Tuesday.