Indianapolis started Monday under clear skies and that familiar warm, muggy blanket, with neighborhoods sitting in the upper 60s ahead of a toasty afternoon. Temperatures are expected to climb into the mid 80s on Monday, May 18, but the bright start is set to give way to scattered showers and thunderstorms later in the day.
Afternoon Severe Risk
The National Weather Service in Indianapolis is calling for scattered showers and storms Monday afternoon, with the main action likely between about 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on May 18. The stronger storms could pack damaging winds, large hail and localized flooding, with south southwest winds of 8 to 16 mph potentially gusting into the mid 20s mph. Downpours in the heaviest cells may quickly drop a quarter to a half inch of rain.
Timing And What To Expect
Storms are expected to fire up across the Wabash Valley and then slide southeast into the metro during the early to mid afternoon, gradually weakening into the evening as instability fades. For more on the setup that has been building into this pattern, check out our Sunday preview.
Plan For The Commute
Brief but intense downpours could quickly cut visibility and leave behind standing water, so allow extra travel time if you will be on the road during the mid afternoon window and avoid driving through flooded streets. Tie down or bring in loose outdoor items, keep phones charged for weather alerts, and consider shifting outdoor plans indoors between about 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Monday. A second round of storms is possible on Tuesday, May 19, so it is worth keeping an eye on local updates.
