043
FXUS63 KIWX 200646
AFDIWX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Northern Indiana
246 AM EDT Sun Sep 20 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Periods of rain and chances for embedded thunder lingering
  into today and tonight. Localized heavy rainfall rates and
  flooding will remain possible.

- A drier pattern sets up next week, though light showers and
  drizzle may linger into Monday and Tuesday.

- Cooler next week with highs only in the 60s Monday through
  Wednesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 246 AM EDT Sun Sep 20 2026

An upstream shortwave will track east into the area today continuing
to provide a steady feed of moist isentropic ascent into a lingering
west to east oriented baroclinic zone. This will keep areas of rain,
low clouds and drizzle around for most of today into this evening.
The saving grace regarding flooding so far has been lacking rainfall
rates with the main MUCAPE axis remaining off to the southwest. This
may change however today given radar trends over northern IL
associated with the incoming shortwave that hint at an uptick in
more robust rain and chances for embedded thunder, with
model/ob/radar trends pointing to areas mainly along and north of
the US 30 corridor this morning for heavier rainfall rates and flood
impacts. A slight shift more into the southern half of the forecast
area then possible this afternoon-evening where differential heating
near the sfc portion of the front likely produces some heavier
convective elements in areas that cannot take on any more rain. Have
opted to extend the Flood Watch through 18z today, with further
extension potentially needed.

The story then for much of next week will turn to a persistent feed
of drier, cooler east-northeast flow on the southern fringe of high
pressure laying out across the northern Great Lakes. The main
moisture axis shifts south of the area Monday into Tuesday in this
regime. However, trailing shortwave energy in broad cyclonic flow
aloft may support a few flare ups in shower/drizzle activity,
especially on Monday south of US 30.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 1235 AM EDT Sun Sep 20 2026

Rain, drizzle and the lingering threat for a few periods of
heavier convective elements will persist today as moisture
continues to funnel into a stalled baroclinic zone over
northern IN. Primarily IFR ceilings anticipated through the
period in this regime, though do expected ceilings and
visibilities to bounce around a bit. Easterly winds likely pick
up this afternoon to near 12 knots otherwise.

&&

.IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IN...Flood Watch until 2 PM EDT /1 PM CDT/ this afternoon for
     INZ005>009-012-014-015-017-018-023>027-032>034-103-104-
     116-203-204-216.
OH...Flood Watch until 2 PM EDT this afternoon for OHZ015-024.
MI...Flood Watch until 2 PM EDT this afternoon for MIZ078>080-177-
     277.
MARINE...None.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Steinwedel
AVIATION...Steinwedel