Here’s a picture of the first soldier I ever met, and the girl he met at a dance hall in England during World War II. They make a nice couple.

Thanks, Vets, and current soldiers of all stripes. I hope you live Happily Ever After, like those two people did:)

Two years ago on Memorial Day I kicked off my New York City Marathon fundraising project for the Pat Tillman Foundation, which is named after the NFL star who walked away from football to serve in the Mideast. He was killed in combat. The Foundation awards scholarships to military families. You and everybody who follows me here helped raise almost 5,000 bucks. And I got to sweat through all five boroughs of NYC. Of all the things I’ve done online, that’s been my favorite so far.

You can donate to the Tillman Foundation by clicking here.

You can also honor those who serve by donating to the Wounded Warrior Project. Here’s a link with more information.

Thanks! Happy Memorial Day. Stay cool.

Our heat streak is about to stop, with a cold front bringing showers and storms by this evening. There’s a slight risk of some severe weather to the northwest of central Indiana. That’s where the storms will fire first this afternoon. The bulk of the rain around here should come post-picnic, with up to a half an inch of precipitation possible from tonight through Tuesday morning. Maybe do the grill thing for lunch, just to be sure.

You’ll really notice a change by Tuesday night, and Wednesday looks sweet. A couple of more chances of rain Thursday and Friday actually look sweet also, considering our rain deficit. And of course, NEXT weekend? Sunny. Highs in the 70s. No danger of records being threatened.

And ABOUT those Indy 500 records:

On Race Day in 1937 Wilbur Shaw’s margin of Indy 500 victory was 2.16 seconds. That was the smallest margin up to that point, and that was a record that stood until 1982. The official high temperature that day was 92. That’s a record that still stands, although 2012 is as close as any year has come since another 91 degree high in 1953.

So: there is now a three-way tie with 2012, 1953, and 1919 as the 2nd warmest Race Day ever. But they don’t put the 2nd place driver on the trophy, right?
Two records WERE broken in Indiana on Sunday. South Bend hit a high of 97, and Ft. Wayne broke their previous record by reaching 95.

Terre Haute also made it to 95. The high was 94 in Evansville, 93 in Muncie and Lafayette, and (like Indy) 91 in Bloomington.

Indy also ran “cooler” than Lafayette and Muncie on Saturday, which was the first 90 degree day of the year in Indianapolis. The first 90 degree day last year came on Memorial Day, which was May 30, so we’re about on the same timeline.

The biggest Memorial Day weather story this year is Tropical Storm Beryl, which made landfall overnight. Beryl is expected to weaken today. It will move slowly west-northwestward and then turn northeastward over northeastern Florida and southeastern Georgia today and Tuesday.

INDY ALMANAC:
The average high today is 76 and the average low is 57. Records are 96 and 39. The sunrise time is 6:21 and the sunset comes at 9:05.

UV INDEX:
Another day in the “very high” range. The index is 10.

POLLEN COUNT:
Pollen concentrations for today will once again be in the “medium-high” range.

DETAILED INDIANAPOLIS FORECAST:
Memorial Day: Partly to mostly sunny and hot again. Slight afternoon shower/storm chance. High 91.

Monday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Low 70.

Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely early to mid morning. Then, mostly sunny, with a high near 84.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.

Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 72.

Thursday Night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 53. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 68.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 73.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 77.

Memorial Day: Partly to mostly sunny and hot again. Slight afternoon shower/storm chance. High 91.

Monday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Low 70.

Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely early to mid morning. Then, mostly sunny, with a high near 84.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.

Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 72.

Thursday Night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 53. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 68.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 73.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 77.

Memorial Day: Partly to mostly sunny and hot again. Slight afternoon shower/storm chance. High 92.

Monday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Low 68.

Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely early to mid morning. Then, mostly sunny, with a high near 83.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.

Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 69.

Thursday Night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 52. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 64.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 76.

Memorial Day: Partly to mostly sunny and hot again. Slight afternoon shower/storm chance. High 92.

Monday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Low 67.

Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely early to mid morning. Then, mostly sunny, with a high near 83.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.

Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 67.

Thursday Night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 52. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 66.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 73.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 77.

Memorial Day: Partly to mostly sunny and hot again. Slight afternoon shower/storm chance. High 92.

Monday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Low 68.

Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely early to mid morning. Then, mostly sunny, with a high near 82.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.

Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 69.

Thursday Night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 52. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 64.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 76.

Memorial Day: Sunny, with a high near 95. South southwest wind between 3 and 11 mph.

Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South southwest wind between 7 and 9 mph.

Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. West northwest wind between 6 and 13 mph.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. North northwest wind between 5 and 7 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. North northwest wind between 5 and 7 mph.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Northeast wind around 7 mph.

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. East wind between 5 and 8 mph.

Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 58. North wind between 3 and 6 mph.

Friday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. North northwest wind between 11 and 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. Northwest wind between 5 and 11 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Northwest wind between 5 and 8 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. West wind at 6 mph becoming south.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. South southwest wind between 7 and 11 mph.

Memorial Day: Slight storm chances in the afternoon. Partly to mostly sunny and hot. High 91. Breezy southwest wind.

Monday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Low 67.

Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning. Then, mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Northwest wind around 10 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. Northwest wind around 10 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.

Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62.

Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 49.

Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 75.

953NewsTalkFinal

On Race Day in 1937 Wilbur Shaw’s margin of Indy 500 victory was 2.16 seconds. That was the smallest margin up to that point, and that was a record that stood until 1982.

The official high temperature that day was 92. That’s a record that still stands, although 2012 is as close as any year has come since another 91 degree high in 1953.

So: there is now a three-way tie with 2012, 1953, and 1919 as the 2nd warmest Race Day ever. But they don’t put the 2nd place driver on the trophy, right?

Temperatures will climb like Castroneves today. It will be hot enough for Guy Fieri to fry an egg on the sidewalk.

The STAR’s Curt Cavin says the kind of heat I’m forecasting for today will translate to about 140 degrees ON the track. Overheated tires may lay down excess rubber, making the track slippery and the race car loose.

Temps will already be in the 70′s as the gates open. By the time the “Hot Bod” contest starts at 9:30am in the Turn 3 Infield…EVERY body is likely to be hot, as the temp moves into the low 80s.

The temperature could get to 90 by Noon, and stay 90+ until about 8pm Sunday night, which is when the Heat Advisory officially ends.

The last time the official Indy temperature was above 90 on a Race Day was 1978. No WONDER people are dressed like that in those old Indianapolis STAR infield photos!

WIKI-POTEETIA:
Likely to be broken today: The all time highest Race Day temp, 92 from 1937.
MAYBE broken today: The record high for May 27, 94 from 1911.

The all time coolest Race Day low temp is 58 from 1992.
The all time wettest Race Day featured 3.8 inches of rain in 2004.

RECENT RACE DAY HIGHS:
88 in 2011
89 in 2010
86 in 2009

When you think of Good Ol’ Boy names, you probably don’t think “Beryl.” But Beryl will be moving toward the southeast coast today, and some of the subtropical storm’s moisture could make it into the Carolinas and spark a few scattered storms near the Charlotte Motor Speedway. It’s not a big threat. In many ways the weather for the Coca-Coca 600 will mirror Indy today. The afternoon high will be around 90 under sticky sunshine.

Beryl’s maximum sustained winds were near 45 mph early Sunday morning. Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for portions of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Here’s the good news: Northern Florida and adjacent areas of Georgia are currently suffering through an exceptional drought, so the significant rain from Beryl will help.

Indianapolis needs some help, too. We’ve had almost exactly half of the rain we should have gotten this month. Indy is about two inches behind on precipitation for the year. Some showers and storms are likely by Monday night and Tuesday morning, but it looks unlikely to produce precipitation beyond a quarter of an inch over most of central Indiana.

INDY ALMANAC:
The average high today is 76 and the average low is 56. Records are 94 and 31. We gain another two minutes of daylight today. Sunrise is 6:21 and sunset comes at 9:04.

UV INDEX:
The index is “very high” today, at a level of “10.”

POLLEN COUNT:
It should stay in the “medium-high” category through Tuesday, perhaps falling some that day as cooler, drier air moves in after earlier rain.

DETAILED INDIANAPOLIS FORECAST:
Today: Sunny, hot, and humid. Heat Advisory continues until 8pm. High 95.

Tonight: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 73.

Memorial Day: Partly sunny, hot and humid, with a slight chance of scattered showers and storms. High 92.

Monday Night: Good chance of showers and storms. Still muggy. Low 71.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a slight chance of morning showers and storms. High 82.

Tuesday Night: Clearing and cooler. Low 59.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny. High 78.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 55.

Thursday: Partly sunny with a slight shower and storm chance. High 72.

Thursday Night: Chance of showers and storms. Low 52.

Friday: Partly sunny with chances of showers and storms. High 68.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 52.

Saturday: Mostly sunny. High 73.

Heat index numbers could reach the upper 90s today, and so a Heat Advisory remain in effect until for central Indiana until 8pm tonight. It’s also another Knozone Action Day for Indianapolis. You can run a 200mph Race Car today, but you’re asked to keep the lawn mower on Pit Road until this evening.

For more information on Race Day records click here.

For the latest Indiana radar and temperatures, browse Paul Poteet Dot Com.

Get video updates this weekend via the IndyStar@Sunrise.

The all time highest Race Day high temp is 92 from 1937.
The all time coolest Race Day low temp is 37 from 1947.
The all time wettest Race Day featured 3.8 inches of rain in 2004.

There is now a three-way tie with 2012, 1953, and 1919 as the 2nd warmest Race Day ever, with an official high of 91.

RECENT RACE DAY HIGHS:
91 in 2012
88 in 2011
89 in 2010
86 in 2009

The coolest stretch of years ended about a decade ago. SIX of the top 12 coolest Race Days occurred between 1992 and 2003, including back-to-back Race Days in the 60s in 2000/2001.

Get THIS YEAR’S latest forecast Race Day from PP Dot Com and Indystar Dot Com, the only place to watch my Race Day update on video.

Historic Heat for the Greatest Spectacle this weekend in Indy.

It’s Parade Day in Indianapolis, and we start a three-day parade of highs in the 90s, with the Heat Index numbers floating up to around 100 on Race Day, now that juicy air has returned to the state.

Two advisories to deal with today. First, a Heat Advisory goes into place this afternoon and rolls through Sunday. Today and tomorrow are also NoZone Action Days in Marion county. (I don’t think we’ll convince the 33 drivers to carpool Sunday.)

INDIANAPOLIS WEEKEND RECORDS:
May 26 (Saturday) record high is 94, from 1911.
May 27 (Sunday) record high is 94, from 1911.
May 28 (Monday) record high is 96, from 1911.

INDY 500 WEATHER RECORDS:
The all time highest Race Day high temp is 92 from 1937.
The all time coolest Race Day low temp is 58 from 1992.
The all time wettest Race Day featured 3.8 inches of rain in 2004.

PP NETWORK SATURDAY HIGHS:
Hot everywhere. Near 90 in South Bend with an early morning shower chance to sunny and 96 in Evansville!

ASK PAUL:
Speaking of records…from Twitter, @pomor wonders: “Paul, did central Indiana have record low snow last winter? It seems like there were zero snow storms!” The answer: not quite zero, but not very much. Indianapolis never got more than two inches at once. At my place we never even lifted a broom to sweep the sidewalk. The seasonal total of 9.8 inches was way below the average of 25.9 inches, but it wasn’t nearly a record. That belongs to the Winter of 1918-1919. Just 5.5 inches of snow then. This past winter JUST missed making the Top Ten Least Snowiest in Indy.

COAST TO COAST:
The stormiest weather for the weekend will be from the Northern Plains into the Great Lakes. A few severe storms are possible from Iowa to Minnesota and Wisconsin, mainly during the afternoon and evening.

BUD & BERYL:
A low pressure system hanging out just off the Southeast Coast for the last few days developed Friday night into Subtropical Storm Beryl. Tropical storm warnings are now in effect over the weekend between Edisto Beach, South Carolina, and the area near Cape Canaveral in Florida. Heavy rain is expected over the weekend from northeastern Florida through southeastern North Carolina.

In the Eastern Pacific, Tropical Storm Bud is lingering near the Mexican West Coast. It is expected to weaken to a tropical depression today.

INDY ALMANAC:
The average high today is 76 and the average low is 56. Records are 94 and 35. The sunrise time is 6:23 and the sunset comes at 9:02.

UV INDEX:
“Very High” today, at “10.”

POLLEN COUNT:
Indianapolis will stay in the “Medium-High” category today and tomorrow, but it now appears the count will increase to “High” on Monday and Tuesday.

DETAILED INDIANAPOLIS FORECAST:
Today: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 93.

Tonight: Clear and muggy. Low 72.

Race Day: Sunny, hot and humid. High 95.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 73.

Memorial Day: Mostly to partly sunny, hot and humid. Slight chances of showers and storms. High 92.

Monday Night: Shower and storm chances. Low 72.

Tuesday: Not as hot. Partly sunny, with a slight shower and storm chance. High 82.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 60.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny. High 78.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear. Low 57.

Thursday: Partly sunny with a chance of showers and storms. High 74.

Thursday Night: Chance of showers and storms. Low 54.

Friday: Partly cloudy. High 72.

It’s Race Weekend and this Great Spectacle celebrates by discussing White Trash With Chainsaws. It’s amazing what people will go through just to open a beer.

And EVERY day is Carb Day when you’re a Junk Food Junkie. Tom wanted his Carbs for free via coupon, but is worried that a recent drive-through debate with the restaurant help led to secret spitting. Paul wants him to grow up and acknowledge his ridiculous paranoia, but instead…Tom (left) turns into a Big Boy. (And he DOESN’T do it the way Aunt Carol from New York wants him to.)

Maybe he’s not growing up, but he is growing old. Tom’s coming off a birthday that finds him pondering procedures for celebrating on Facebook. Paul used to aggressively celebrate viewer/listener birthdays. He was the Willard Scott of Facebook Weather. The episode closes with a discussion of restaurant cell phone etiquette. Gentlemen, stop your electronic engines!

RANDOM QUOTES:
“I blame it on processed food.”
“I will take a large number one.”
“My word economy is varnished to a high sheen.”

COMMENT here, or via email, on Paul’s Facebook, Tom’s Facebook, or Paul’s Twitter.

LISTEN any time on any smart phone with no syncing needed & no memory wasted via the Stitcher app for iPhone, Blackberry, Android & Palm Pre. Download Stitcher from your App Store, then search “Paul & Tom.”

SUBSCRIBE to the Paul & Tom Show via iTunes, via Email, or via the RSS feed.

The ONLY change I’ve made to this graphic was to add a degree today & Monday.

The all-time top temperature at Indianapolis International on a Race Day is 92 degrees, from 1937. My forecast for this weekend is 95.

Of course, the Race falls on different days every year. So what about the high temp record for May 27 itself? It’s a little high…at 94 degrees, so we may bag two records at the same time.

Regardless of records, you’ll get plenty of sun and humidity this holiday weekend. There’s a slight storm chance this afternoon and evening as a frontal system approaches and tries to qualify for rain-making. Another precipitation qualification attempt happens Monday afternoon, and should finally succeed Monday night and Tuesday, knocking the numbers down to the 70s for at least a few days.

RECENT RACE DAY HIGHS:
88 in 2011
89 in 2010
86 in 2009

The coolest stretch of years ended about a decade ago. SIX of the top 12 coolest Race Days occurred between 1992 and 2003, including back-to-back Race Days in the 60s in 2000/2001.

When does Summer begin? Astronomers will tell you 7:09pm on June 20th. Meteorologists start their Summer stats on June 1st. People that run swimming pools go for Memorial Day Weekend. Allow me to narrow it down further.

If you’re in Indy, I think “Summer” starts when the gates open on Carb Day. And Summer weather’s waiting for you at the 16th and Georgetown “party before the race.”

The frontal system I’ve been advertising for the end of the work week is here on schedule, and will meander around central Indiana, so just be ready for a stray shower or storm Trackside this afternoon, along with a mix of sun and clouds. That Carb Day chance will diminish tonight faster than you can say “Lynyrd Skynyrd.”

The front exits to the north early Saturday morning, opening the spigots on heat and humidity for the weekend. The humidity levels will remain below Heat Advisory criteria, if that’s any consolation.

Will we break records? Yes, on Sunday. The all-time top temperature at Indianapolis International Airport on an Indy 500 Race Day is 92 degrees, from 1937. The high temp record for May 27 itself is 94. Close, but I think we’ll get that one also.

Indiana’s most social weatherman has some other answers:

Question from @toddcopeland1: @PaulPoteet I know its going to be hot this weekend but how will the wind be @IMS on Sunday?”

Nothing out of the ordinary. I’m expecting a south/southwest wind around 10mph. Random fact: the average wind speed on ALL Race Days is 8.9mph, from the south.

And @HMATTHIAS asks “@PaulPoteet Will it ever rain again? Should I just invest in cactus and rocks?”

Don’t give up on the green yet. The 8-14 day outlook at least promises normal temperatures and precipitation. We could use it. The new weekly maps are in from the U.S. Drought Monitor, and they show the “Abnormally Dry” area covering about twice as much real estate as it did last week.

The dry area in north central and northeastern Indiana is spreading southward to Kokomo and Marion, and the dry conditions of southwestern Indiana are working their way northeast, to Bloomfield and French Lick.

Evansville is on the edge of a “Moderate Drought” that worsens as you head south into Kentucky. Mister Weatherman hopes the bourbon crop still comes in ok.

INDY ALMANAC:
The average high today is 76 and the average low is 56. Records are 93 and 34. Sunrise is 6:23 and sunset is 9:02.

UV INDEX:
The Indianapolis Index is down a notch today at “8,” which is still “Very High.”

POLLEN COUNT:
The Count should rise slowly through the long holiday weekend, but remain in the “Medium-High” category throughout.

DETAILED INDIANAPOLIS FORECAST:
Today: Mostly to partly sunny, with a slight chance of scattered showers and storms, mainly in the afternoon. High 88.

Tonight: Partly to mostly clear. Low 68.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 92.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 70.

Sunny: Sunny, hot and humid. High 95.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 73.

Memorial Day: Mostly to partly sunny, hot and humid. Slight chance of an afternoon storm. High 92.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy. Shower and storm chances. Low 70.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with chances of showers and storms. High 82.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 60.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 78.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 58.

Thursday: Chances of showers and storms. High 74.

Today: Mostly to partly sunny, with a slight chance of scattered showers and storms, mainly in the afternoon. High 88.

Tonight: Partly to mostly clear. Low 68.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 92.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 70.

Sunny: Sunny, hot and humid. High 95.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 73.

Memorial Day: Mostly to partly sunny, hot and humid. Slight chance of an afternoon storm. High 92.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy. Shower and storm chances. Low 70.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with chances of showers and storms. High 82.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 60.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 78.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 58.

Thursday: Chances of showers and storms. High 74.

Today: Mostly to partly sunny, with a slight chance of scattered showers and storms, mainly in the afternoon. High 87.

Tonight: Early evening slight shower or storm chance, then partly to mostly clear. Low 66.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 92.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 69.

Sunny: Sunny, hot and humid. High 95.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 73.

Memorial Day: Mostly to partly sunny, hot and humid. Slight chance of an afternoon storm. High 91.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy. Shower and storm chances. Low 69.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with chances of showers and storms. High 82.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 60.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 76.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 54.

Thursday: Chances of showers and storms. High 72.

Today: Mostly to partly sunny, with a slight chance of scattered showers and storms, mainly in the afternoon. High 86.

Tonight: Chance of an early evening scattered storm. Then, partly to mostly clear. Low 66.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 91.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 69.

Sunny: Sunny, hot and humid. High 95.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 72.

Memorial Day: Mostly to partly sunny, hot and humid. Slight chance of an afternoon storm. High 91.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy. Shower and storm chances. Low 70.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with chances of showers and storms. High 80.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 58.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 76.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 55.

Thursday: Chances of showers and storms. High 72.

Today: Mostly to partly sunny, with a slight chance of scattered showers and storms, mainly in the afternoon. High 87.

Tonight: Partly to mostly clear. Low 67.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 92.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 69.

Sunny: Sunny, hot and humid. High 95.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 72.

Memorial Day: Mostly to partly sunny, hot and humid. Slight chance of an afternoon storm. High 91.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy. Shower and storm chances. Low 70.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with chances of showers and storms. High 81.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 59.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 76.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 56.

Thursday: Chances of showers and storms. High 73.

Today: Mostly to partly sunny, with a slight chance of scattered showers and storms, mainly in the afternoon. High 93.

Tonight: Mostly clear. Low 68.

Saturday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 95.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 70.

Sunny: Sunny, hot and humid. High 96.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 72.

Memorial Day: Mostly to partly sunny, hot and humid. Slight chance of an afternoon storm. High 94.

Monday Night: Shower and storm chances. Low 71.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with chances of showers and storms. High 87.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Slight shower/storm chances. Low 66.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 84.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 63.

Thursday: Chances of showers and storms. High 80.

Today: Mostly to partly sunny, with a chance of scattered showers and storms, mainly in this afternoon. Not as warm. High 81.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a chance of scattered showers and storms. Low 64.

Saturday: Mostly to partly sunny, with a chance of scattered showers and storms, mainly in the morning. Hot and humid. High 88.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 70.

Sunny: Sunny, hot and humid. High 92.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 71.

Memorial Day: Mostly to partly sunny, hot and humid. Slight chance of an afternoon storm. High 90.

Monday Night: Shower and storm chances. Low 65.

Tuesday: Becoming mostly sunny. High 77.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear. Low 55.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 68.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 50.

Thursday: Chances of showers and storms. High 68.

953NewsTalkFinal

The new weekly maps are in from the U.S. Drought Monitor, and they show the “Abnormally Dry” area covering about twice as much real estate as it did last week.

The dry area in north central and northeastern Indiana is spreading southward to Kokomo and Marion, and the dry conditions of southwestern Indiana are working their way northeast, to Bloomfield and French Lick.

Evansville is on the edge of a “Moderate Drought” that worsens as you head south into Kentucky. Mister Weatherman hopes the bourbon crop still comes in ok.

If you’re in your 50s you might wanna double check this photo gallery from the IndyStar. You could be in one of these classic shots. Is “classic” the right word? Enjoy some golden oldies (actually black and white oldies) from the pre-Facebook era, when the Indianapolis Star did the Sharing.

Sunshine and warmer temperatures today. Temps jumped five degrees yesterday compared to Wednesday. Indianapolis will move up again today, and stay in that ball park tomorrow, because of an approaching frontal system. Once that retreats to the north Saturday, the lid’s off the thermometer, and we hit the 90s.

That front tomorrow brings at least a slight chance of a shower or storm. That Carb Day chance will diminish in the afternoon faster than you can say “Lynyrd Skynyrd.”

Little has changed in the temperature forecast. A few degrees less heat Friday, a degree more Sunday and Monday. It also doesn’t look to really become humid until Saturday. We’ll take anything at this point.

Indiana’s most social weatherman has answers:

Question from @toddcopeland1: @PaulPoteet I know its going to be hot this weekend but how will the wind be @IMS on Sunday?”

Nothing out of the ordinary. I’m expecting a southwest wind from 5-15mph. Random fact: the average wind speed on ALL Race Days is 8.9mph, from the south.

And @HMATTHIAS asks “@PaulPoteet Will it ever rain again? Should I just invest in cactus and rocks?”

Don’t give up on the green yet. The 8-14 day outlook at least promises normal temperatures and precipitation. We could use it.

The new weekly maps are in from the U.S. Drought Monitor, and they show the “Abnormally Dry” area covering about twice as much real estate as it did last week.

The dry area in north central and northeastern Indiana is spreading southward to Kokomo and Marion, and the dry conditions of southwestern Indiana are working their way northeast, to Bloomfield and French Lick.

Evansville is on the edge of a “Moderate Drought” that worsens as you head south into Kentucky. Mister Weatherman hopes the bourbon crop still comes in ok.

The Indianapolis year-to-date precip total is holding at 14.56 inches, which is 1.57 inches below average.

ALMANAC:
Average Indy high today is 75 and the average low is 55. The records are 90 and 37. The sunrise time is 6:23 and the sunset comes at 9:01.

UV INDEX:
Indianapolis is in the “Very High” category today, at “9.”

POLLEN COUNT:
Little change in the pollen level, staying at “Medium-High” through Sunday.

DETAILED INDIANAPOLIS FORECAST:
Today: Sunny and warmer. High 86. Breezy this afternoon.

Tonight: Mostly clear in the evening. Partly cloudy overnight. Low 66.

Friday: Partly to mostly sunny. Slight storm chances. High 87.

Friday Night: Partly to mostly clear. Low 68.

Saturday: Mostly sunny and more humid. High 92.

Saturday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 73.

Sunday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 95.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 73.

Monday: Partly cloudy hot and humid, with slight storm chances. High 91.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and storms. Low 70.

Tuesday: Better chance of showers and storms. High 82.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 60.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 78.

Today: Sunny and warmer. High 86. Breezy this afternoon.

Tonight: Mostly clear in the evening. Partly cloudy overnight. Low 66.

Friday: Partly to mostly sunny. Slight storm chances. High 87.

Friday Night: Partly to mostly clear. Low 68.

Saturday: Mostly sunny and more humid. High 92.

Saturday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 73.

Sunday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 95.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 73.

Monday: Partly cloudy hot and humid, with slight storm chances. High 91.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and storms. Low 70.

Tuesday: Better chance of showers and storms. High 82.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 60.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 78.

Today: Sunny and warmer. High 86. Breezy this afternoon.

Tonight: Mostly clear in the evening. Partly cloudy overnight. Low 64.

Friday: Partly to mostly sunny. Slight storm chances. High 86.

Friday Night: Partly to mostly clear. Low 66.

Saturday: Mostly sunny and more humid. High 91.

Saturday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 72.

Sunday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 94.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 72.

Monday: Partly cloudy hot and humid, with slight storm chances. High 89.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and storms. Low 70.

Tuesday: Better chance of showers and storms. High 80.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 58.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 76.

Today: Sunny and warmer. High 87. Breezy this afternoon.

Tonight: Mostly clear in the evening. Partly cloudy overnight. Low 66.

Friday: Partly to mostly sunny. Slight storm chances. High 86.

Friday Night: Partly to mostly clear. Low 65.

Saturday: Mostly sunny and more humid. High 91.

Saturday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 73.

Sunday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 94.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 73.

Monday: Partly cloudy hot and humid, with slight storm chances. High 91.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and storms. Low 69.

Tuesday: Better chance of showers and storms. High 80.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 58.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 76.

Today: Sunny and warmer. High 86. Breezy this afternoon.

Tonight: Mostly clear in the evening. Partly cloudy overnight. Low 66.

Friday: Partly to mostly sunny. Slight storm chances. High 87.

Friday Night: Partly to mostly clear. Low 67.

Saturday: Mostly sunny and more humid. High 91.

Saturday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 72.

Sunday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 94.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 72.

Monday: Partly cloudy hot and humid, with slight storm chances. High 90.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and storms. Low 70.

Tuesday: Better chance of showers and storms. High 81.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 59.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 76.

Today: Sunny and warmer. High 90. Breezy this afternoon and this evening.

Tonight: Mostly clear. Low 70.

Friday: Partly to mostly sunny. High 93

Friday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 70.

Saturday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 96.

Saturday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 72.

Sunday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 97.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 73.

Monday: Partly cloudy hot and humid, with slight storm chances. High 94.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and storms. Low 71.

Tuesday: Better storm chances. High 87

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 66.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 84.

Today: Sunny and warmer. High 87. Breezy this afternoon.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 64.

Friday: Partly cloudy. Slight storm chances. High 82.

Friday Night: Slight storm chances. Low 64.

Saturday: Mostly sunny and more humid. High 88.

Saturday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 69.

Sunday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 91.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 71.

Monday: Partly cloudy hot and humid, with storm chances. High 88.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and storms. Low 65.

Tuesday: Clearing and not as warm. High 75.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear. Low 55.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 68.

953NewsTalkFinal

This weather joint is jumping! Temperatures jump back above average today after two almost-exactly-average May days. The temperature jumps even more tomorrow, and the humidity jumps by tomorrow night. By Friday? Just plain humid, and that story sticks (I’m choosing that word carefully) through Memorial Day Weekend.

There might not be any new speed records at the Track this weekend but there will probably be a new weather record.

The all-time top temperature at Indianapolis International on a Race Day is 92 degrees, from 1937. My forecast for this weekend is 94.

Of course, the Race falls on different days every year. So what about the high temp record for May 27 itself? It’s a little high…at 94 degrees, so it may also be tied or broken.

Regardless of records, you’ll get plenty of sun and humidity this holiday weekend. There’s a slight storm chance Friday afternoon and evening as a frontal system approaches and tries to qualify for rain-making. Another precipitation qualification attempt happens Monday afternoon, and should finally succeed Tuesday, knocking the numbers down to the 70s for at least a few days. The overall trend through (at least) the first week in June is hot.

RECENT RACE DAY HIGHS:
88 in 2011
89 in 2010
86 in 2009

WIKI-POTEETIA:
The coolest stretch of years ended about a decade ago. SIX of the top 12 coolest Race Days occurred between 1992 and 2003, including back-to-back Race Days in the 60s in 2000/2001.

COAST TO COAST:
The burning question? How long will it stay so hot out West? An ongoing combination of dry weather, high winds, and low humidity will combine to continue extreme fire weather danger across much of the southwestern part of the country through Saturday. Red Flag Warnings persist. Severe weather is possible today in the northern Plains, moving into Wisconsin. This is the system that will *try* to make a move on Indiana later Friday.

INDY ALMANAC:
The average high today is 75 and the average low is 55. Records are 92 and 37. The sun is up at 6:24 and sets at exactly 9:00.

UV INDEX:
Our index is up a notch today, to 9, which is “Very High.”

POLLEN COUNT:
The count should stay in the “Medium-High” range through Saturday, increasing slightly from one day to the next.

DETAILED INDIANAPOLIS FORECAST:
Today: Mostly sunny and warmer. High 82.

Tonight: Clear. Low 61.

Thursday: Hot and sunny. Becoming more humid. High 87.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 67.

Friday: Partly to mostly sunny, with a slight shower and storm chance in the afternoon. High 89.

Friday Night: Slight chance of showers and storms. Low 71.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 92.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 72.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 94.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 72.

Monday: Partly sunny, hot and humid. Slight afternoon storm chance. High 90.

Monday Night: Slight shower and storm chance. Low 70.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with chances of showers and storms. High 79.

Today: Mostly sunny and warmer. High 82.

Tonight: Clear. Low 61.

Thursday: Hot and sunny. Becoming more humid. High 87.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 67.

Friday: Partly to mostly sunny, with a slight shower and storm chance in the afternoon. High 89.

Friday Night: Slight chance of showers and storms. Low 71.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 92.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 72.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 94.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 72.

Monday: Partly sunny, hot and humid. Slight afternoon storm chance. High 90.

Monday Night: Slight shower and storm chance. Low 70.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with chances of showers and storms. High 79.

Today: Sunny and warmer. High 82.

Tonight: Clear. Low 58.

Thursday: Hot and sunny. Becoming more humid. High 87.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 66.

Friday: Partly to mostly sunny, with a slight shower and storm chance in the afternoon. High 89.

Friday Night: Slight chance of showers and storms. Low 69.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 91.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 70.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 94.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 72.

Monday: Partly sunny, hot and humid. Slight afternoon storm chance. High 88.

Monday Night: Slight shower and storm chance. Low 68.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with chances of showers and storms. High 78.

Today: Mostly sunny and warmer. High 82.

Tonight: Clear. Low 60.

Thursday: Hot and sunny. Becoming more humid. High 86.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 67.

Friday: Partly to mostly sunny, with a slight shower and storm chance in the afternoon. High 89.

Friday Night: Slight chance of showers and storms. Low 70.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 91.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 70.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 93.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 71.

Monday: Partly sunny, hot and humid. Slight afternoon storm chance. High 89.

Monday Night: Slight shower and storm chance. Low 69 .

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with chances of showers and storms. High 78.

Today: Mostly sunny and warmer. High 82.

Tonight: Clear. Low 60.

Thursday: Hot and sunny. Becoming more humid. High 86.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 66.

Friday: Partly to mostly sunny, with a slight shower and storm chance in the afternoon. High 89.

Friday Night: Slight chance of showers and storms. Low 69.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 90.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 70.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 93.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 71.

Monday: Partly sunny, hot and humid. Slight afternoon storm chance. High 89.

Monday Night: Slight shower and storm chance. Low 70.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with chances of showers and storms. High 78.

Today: Sunny and warmer. High 80.

Tonight: Clear. Low 58.

Thursday: Hot and sunny. Becoming more humid. High 87.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy and muggy. Low 66.

Friday: Partly cloudy, with a slight shower and storm chance. High 82.

Friday Night: Chance of showers and storms. Low 64.

Saturday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and storms. High 85.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 68.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 90.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 70.

Monday: Partly sunny, hot and humid. Slight afternoon storm chance. High 86.

Monday Night: Slight shower and storm chance. Low 65.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with chances of showers and storms. High 72.

953NewsTalkFinal

Today: Mostly sunny and warmer. High 84.

Tonight: Clear. Low 60.

Thursday: Sunny, hot, and more humid. High 90.

Thursday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 70.

Friday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 92.

Friday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 70.

Saturday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 95.

Saturday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 72.

Sunday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 96.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 72.

Monday: Partly sunny, hot and humid. Slight afternoon storm chance. High 93.

Monday Night: Slight shower and storm chance. Low 71.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with chances of showers and storms. High 85.

A few clouds south and east of Indianapolis in the morning, but otherwise: I’m waving a green flag today and tomorrow. The caution flag for heat and humidity starts to wave Thursday, and you may be waving a white *weather* flag by the time the checkered flag flies Sunday.

Seems everyone is already thinking about Race Weekend Weather. “@NKOTB_Ellen” on Twitter says
“@PaulPoteet I know they have restrictions on cooler sizes, but what’s the size limit on an Air Conditioner?”

There have been many Race Days with highs in the mid 80s, but the last time the Indianapolis Airport made it to 90 on a Race Day was 1978. We are definitely in striking distance of the all time record for a Race Day, which (for the moment) is 92, from 1937.

The next real chance for showers and storms comes just in time for your Memorial Day cookout, but I think the better chance won’t arrive until Tuesday. Rain can’t come fast enough for anybody trying to grow something around here. We aren’t alone. Hot, dry and windy weather has allowed vegetation to dry in the West, and this has increased the fire danger. Over the next few days, fire weather concerns will jump as gusty winds develop. Any wildfires that start will have the potential to quickly grow out of control. Red Flag Warnings cover a large portion of the Southwest through the Central Rockies

Meanwhile, Tropical Depression Alberto is won’t threaten the USA coastline as it moves up the Atlantic. Alberto’s maximum sustained winds early today were near 35 mph. It will only get weaker, and the circulation could be gone by Thursday. In the Pacific, Tropical Storm Bud’s (yes, I said “Bud”) maximum sustained winds have increased to near 40 mph. Additional strengthening is expected and Bud could become a hurricane by tomorrow night.Bud is centered about 515 miles south of Zihuatanejo, Mexico. It’s moving west/northwest.

Around here the Tropical Depression will come from people who hate humidity. It should begin to increase across the area Thursday afternoon, and be flat-out STICKY Friday through Monday.

INDY ALMANAC:
The average Indianapolis high today is 75 and the average low is 55. Records are 93 and 35. Sunrise time is 6:25 and sunset is 9:00.

UV INDEX:
The Index jumps back to “8″ today.

POLLEN COUNT:
The Count stays at “Medium-High” through Friday, but may dip slightly within that range on Wednesday and Thursday.

DETAILED INDIANAPOLIS FORECAST:
Today: Partly to mostly sunny. High 74.

Tonight: Clear. Low 55.

Wednesday: Sunny. High 81.

Wednesday Night: Clear. Low 60.

Thursday: Hot and sunny. High 86.

Thursday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 68.

Carb Day Friday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 89.

Friday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 68.

Parade Day Saturday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 91.

Saturday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 70.

Race Day Sunday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 92.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 70.

Memorial Day Monday: Partly sunny hot and humid. Scattered storm possible. High 89.

Today: Partly to mostly sunny. High 74.

Tonight: Clear. Low 55.

Wednesday: Sunny. High 81.

Wednesday Night: Clear. Low 60.

Thursday: Hot and sunny. High 86.

Thursday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 68.

Carb Day Friday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 89.

Friday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 68.

Parade Day Saturday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 91.

Saturday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 70.

Race Day Sunday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 92.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 70.

Memorial Day Monday: Partly sunny hot and humid. Scattered storm possible. High 89.

Today: Sunny. High 74.

Tonight: Clear. Low 50.

Wednesday: Sunny. High 82.

Wednesday Night: Clear. Low 62.

Thursday: Hot and sunny. High 87.

Thursday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 69.

Friday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 89.

Friday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 68.

Saturday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 91.

Saturday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 68.

Sunday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 92.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 69.

Memorial Day: Partly sunny hot and humid. Scattered storm possible. High 89.

Today: Mostly sunny. High 74.

Tonight: Clear. Low 51.

Wednesday: Sunny. High 81.

Wednesday Night: Clear. Low 60.

Thursday: Hot and sunny. High 86.

Thursday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 66.

Friday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 88.

Friday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 67.

Saturday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 90.

Saturday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 69.

Sunday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 91.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 68.

Memorial Day: Partly sunny hot and humid. Scattered storm possible. High 89.

Today: Partly to mostly sunny. High 74.

Tonight: Clear. Low 53.

Wednesday: Sunny. High 81.

Wednesday Night: Clear. Low 62.

Thursday: Hot and sunny. High 87.

Thursday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 69.

Friday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 89.

Friday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 67.

Saturday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 91.

Saturday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 68.

Sunday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 92.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 69.

Memorial Day: Partly sunny hot and humid. Scattered storm possible. High 89.

Today: Sunny. High 70.

Tonight: Clear. Low 49.

Wednesday: Sunny. High 80.

Wednesday Night: Clear. Low 58.

Thursday: Sunny and hot. High 87.

Thursday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 66.

Friday: Partly sunny, hot and humid. High 85.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy and muggy. Low 66.

Saturday: Partly sunny, hot and humid. High 85.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 64.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 90.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 67.

Memorial Day: Partly sunny hot and humid. Scattered storm possible. High 88.

953NewsTalkFinal

Today: Partly to mostly sunny. High 76.

Tonight: Clear. Low 54.

Wednesday: Sunny. High 83.

Wednesday Night: Clear. Low 59.

Thursday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 89.

Thursday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 69.

Friday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 92.

Friday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 69.

Saturday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 93.

Saturday Night: Clear and muggy. Low 70.

Sunday: Sunny, hot and humid. High 94.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 69.

Memorial Day: Partly sunny hot and humid. Scattered storm possible. High 91.

Here are a couple of shots I saw in my Twitter feed this morning of the annual solar eclipse this past weekend.

The first picture is from J.R. Hehnly, taken in West Texas. J.R.’s Twitter name is @stormchasing and his site is http://okstorms.com.

The second pic was taken in Melrose, New Mexico by George Kourounis, of http://furiousearth.com. George’s name on twitter is @georgekourounis.

In a total solar eclipse occurs the moon passes between the Earth and the sun. That casts a shadow that blocks out the sun’s light. An annular eclipse means the moon is too far from the Earth and the sun’s light isn’t completely blocked. Instead, a thin “ring” is visible around the black circle that is the moon’s shadow.

My IndyStar@Sunrise sponsor, Kroger, is involved in a cool promotion leading up to Memorial Day this weekend. You can save $4 instantly, when you mix and match any 10 participating products in a single transaction. And one dollar will be donated to the USO! Offer ends May 23rd. Click here for more info, or simply to support the USO online. Happy Krogering:)

Let me boil the 7 Day Forecast down to one piece of advice: run your sprinkler. Today’s the best chance of showers before Memorial Day, and that chance isn’t huge. And by the way, when I say “boil” I mean BOIL. Hot and humid weather is likely from Thursday through at least Race Day. Maybe my advice should be: run THROUGH your sprinkler.

Sunday evening storms did some (wind and hail) damage, mainly in Wisconsin and Illinois. It looks like a microburst struck the south side of Gary Indiana just before 9p last night. Trees and power lines were down, and at least one roof was torn off. The wind pattern in a microburst is the opposite of a tornado. The air moves in a downward motion until it hits ground level. It then spreads outward in all directions.

Rainfall totals from this system are highest in west central and north central Indiana, and shrink as you move east. Radar indicates some places with over an inch of rain. The heaviest rain came around Logansport.

The tenth of an inch that Indianapolis got overnight was the FIRST measurable precipitation at the Airport since a similarly small total on May 9…over a week and a half ago.

I’m not expecting any more severe weather today, and any showers should be limited to south and east of Indianapolis by afternoon as the front pulls away. Everything should be out of the state by sunset. Today’s front is the last front to cross central Indiana until NEXT week. There are signs a cold front could get as close as southern Lower Michigan over the holiday weekend, so I’ll keep an eye on that, but otherwise – the heat is on.

And speaking of heat, Sunday was the hottest day of year so far across Indiana. Evansville and Fort Wayne missed a new record by one degree. Indy and South Bend missed it by two.
HIGH TEMPS
92 Evansville, Goshen, Terre Haute, and Valparaiso
91 Shelbyville, Ft. Wayne and South Bend
90 Lafayette
88 Indianapolis, Muncie, and Bloomington

COAST TO COAST:
Alberto is fading as a tropical threat. The maximum sustained winds of the Tropical Storm had weakened to 40mph overnight, and there were no warnings or watches in effect along the East Coast itself.

INDY ALMANAC:
The average high today is 74 and the average low is 54. Records are 92 and 36. The sunrise is at 6:25, and you will see the sun set at 8:59 tonight.

UV INDEX:
With clouds and rain around Monday the UV Index is down to “5″ for the day.

POLLEN COUNT:
Even though the count dips just a bit Tuesday and Wednesday the overall level remains “Medium-High” through Thursday.

DETAILED INDIANAPOLIS FORECAST:
Today: Scattered morning showers and some thunder possible. Becoming partly cloudy this afternoon, with a slight shower or storm chance. High 75.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 53.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. High 75.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear. Low 57.

Wednesday: Sunshine. High 80.

Wednesday Night: Clear. Low 62.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 88.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 67.

Friday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 88.

Friday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 67.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 90.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 68.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 90.

Today: Scattered morning showers and some thunder possible. Becoming partly cloudy this afternoon, with a slight shower or storm chance. High 75.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 53.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. High 75.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear. Low 57.

Wednesday: Sunshine. High 80.

Wednesday Night: Clear. Low 62.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 88.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 67.

Friday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 88.

Friday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 67.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 90.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 68.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 90.

Today: Chance of a morning shower. Partly cloudy this afternoon. Much cooler high of 72.

Tonight: Mostly clear. Low 50.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. High 74.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear. Low 52.

Wednesday: Sunshine. High 78.

Wednesday Night: Clear. Low 62.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 87.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 67.

Friday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 87.

Friday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 68.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 89.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 68.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 90.

Today: Scattered morning showers and some thunder possible. Becoming partly cloudy this afternoon, with a slight shower or storm chance. High 75.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 52.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. High 74.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear. Low 54.

Wednesday: Sunshine. High 79.

Wednesday Night: Clear. Low 62.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 87.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 66.

Friday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 87.

Friday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 67.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 89.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 67.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 90.

Today: Scattered morning showers and some thunder. Becoming partly cloudy this afternoon, with a slight shower or storm chance. High 75.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 52.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. High 74.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear. Low 55.

Wednesday: Sunshine. High 79.

Wednesday Night: Clear. Low 62.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 87.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 66.

Friday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 88.

Friday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 67.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 90.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 68.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 90.

Today: Chance of mainly morning showers and some thunder. Becoming partly cloudy. High 68.

Tonight: Mostly clear. Low 48.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. High 70.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear. Low 49.

Wednesday: Sunshine. High 78.

Wednesday Night: Clear. Low 62.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 86.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 66.

Friday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 85.

Friday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 65.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 85.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 70.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 86.

953NewsTalkFinal

Today: Chance of mainly morning showers and storms. Becoming partly cloudy. High 78.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 51.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. High 78.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear. Low 57.

Wednesday: Sunshine. High 83.

Wednesday Night: Clear. Low 63.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 90.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 69.

Friday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 92.

Friday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 69.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 93.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 70.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 94.

Hot and mostly to partly sunny today, with south winds from 5-10mph. This chart shows the temperature trend through the day. The trend leading into Race Weekend is definitely hot. Upper 80′s to around 90 looks to be a safe bet for both Parade Day and Race Day, with MORE humidity than we’ve have in Indy this weekend. Community Day and Carb Day will be a notch lower as far as temperature and humidity.

The Pacers, the Racers, and Mother Nature all generate heat today. Then, storm chances and a fast break from the hot and dry weather. It’ll be back big time *next* weekend, when we could be talking triple digit heat index numbers for Race Day. Stay tuned. (For the greatest spectacle in racing.)

Today’s temps will be close to yesterday’s. Not Ryan Briscoe and James Hinchcliffe-close, but only a degree or so difference. The forecast high is 87. and the record (just like yesterday) is 90 degrees, set in 1977.

Highs along the PP Network won’t vary much: 87-90 from South Bend down to Evansville.

Some fair weather cumulus clouds could puff up from late morning through afternoon. Rain chances start after sunset west of Indy, and overspread the state overnight. Monday might be our only shot at showers for at least a week.

The Indianapolis rain deficit is 1.02 inches for the month and 1.01 inches for the year. The 8-14 Day Outlook going into the first week of June promises more of the same.

Good news? Little severe weather lately. The Jet Stream’s been spending late Spring north of here. One of the most active areas recently is Minnesota, with a couple dozen tornado reports in the last month. That’s the kind of action they would normally have in mid to late summer.

The tropical weather season hasn’t officially started yet, but the storms have. Tropical Storm Alberto is churning in the Atlantic. Tropical storm winds are possible late Sunday and Monday along the South Carolina coast. The storm’s maximum winds Sunday morning were around 50mph, and those tropical force winds extend outward about 70 miles.

INDY ALMANAC:
The average Indianapolis high today is 74 and the average low is 54. Records are 90 and 38. Sunrise time is 6:26 and the sun sets at 8:58.

UV INDEX:
The Index rises to ’9″ today, which is in the Very High category.

POLLEN COUNT:
“Medium/High” today, and even though it falls a little Monday and Tuesday it will stay in that range through Wednesday.

DETAILED INDIANAPOLIS FORECAST:
Today: Mostly to partly sunny and hot. High 87.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with scattered showers and storms late evening and overnight. Low 64.

Monday: Mostly cloudy, with scattered showers and storms. Not as hot. High 75.

Monday Night: Chance of showers and storms. Low 53.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. High 75.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear. Low 56.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny. High 79.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear. Low 60.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 84.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear. Low 64.

Friday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 86.

Friday Night: Mostly clear and muggy. Low 67.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 89.

Ladies and gentlemen: don’t start your lawn mower engines! At least, not until after 6pm. And you’re supposed to also put off gassing up until after sunset. All because today is the first “Knozone Action Day” of the season for Indianapolis. The promise of higher temperatures and fairly light winds today are expected to produce conditions where ozone levels could be excessive. There’s also a an alert for Marion county tomorrow.

On the other hand: It IS a May weekend with plenty of sun and cars on the Track – and the Pacers are still playing! These ARE the Good Ol’ Days!

OK, it might be a getting a little hot for some of you planning to spend time at the Track or at the Broad Ripple Art Fair today. We should get within 4 degrees of the record high today and tomorrow. I don’t think the humidity will be oppressive, but you’ll still notice a little more moisture in the air, compared to the past few days of bone dry dew points.

If you’re running the Geist Half Marathon (and 5-k) this morning expect about 62 degrees at the 7:30am start, warming to 68 by 9am, and around 72 by 10am. The wind will be out of the southeast around 5-10mph. If you also ran the Mini two weeks ago – this race will be a little less humid and a lot sunnier by comparison. But that won’t stop Mr. Weatherman from sweating. My apologies in advance, greater Geist area.

Let’s change the subject…to some moisture we do want: precipitation. Rain deficits are piling up, and our next best chance to catch up comes Monday. Computer models indicate up to a half an inch from scattered showers and storms.

Until then, it’s simply sunny over much of Indiana this weekend. There is little range in temperatures, with highs around 85 in South Bend, and 88 in Evansville.

COAST TO COAST:
Widespread showers and thunderstorms will accompany a surface front slowly moving over the central Rockies to the Upper Midwest this weekend. There could be a few severe storms in the Plains. High pressure will hold strong over New England, while a low pressure system off the southern Atlantic coast will keep showers and thunderstorms in the forecast from Florida to the coastal Carolinas.

INDY ALMANAC:
Average high today is 74 and the average low is 54. Records are 90 degrees from 1977, and 32 degrees from 2002. Sunrise time is 6:27 and sun set is at 8:57, an additional two minutes more of daylight compared to Friday.

UV INDEX:
Today’s Index holds at 8, which is “Very High.”

POLLEN COUNT:
The Indy Pollen Count is again on the high side of “Medium-High” today, and will rise slightly into the low side of “High” Sunday. The count is expected to go back to “Medium-High” Monday.

DETAILED INDIANAPOLIS FORECAST:
Today: Hot and sunny. High 86.

Tonight: Clear and a little muggier. Low 63.

Sunday: Mostly sunny. High 86.

Sunday Night: Clouding up. Low 63.

Monday: Mostly cloudy, with scattered showers and storms. High 78.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with scattered showers and storms. Low 57.

Tuesday: Partly sunny with a slight chance of showers and storms. High 74.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and storms. Low 57.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 80.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear. Low 60.

Thursday: Mostly sunny. High 84.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear. Low 64.

Friday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High 85.

The twist here: it’s the teachers pranking the students, who apparently stood for some interviews while the adults secretly sprinkled and swam behind them. I’m partial to the dancing duo at about 1:45 into the video.

Attention Sports Fans: Mister Weatherman has examined the weekend maps and charts and decided that it will officially be “Hotter than Hibbard” out there. The sun is the Center of our weekend story. Winds will begin shifting from the east to the southeast today, opening the door to the 80s again. As the winds shift again to a more southerly direction Saturday afternoon they will start to pull in more moisture. You should notice a little more humidity tomorrow, and then you may feel a little more uncomfortable by Saturday night and Sunday.

A slow wind for Fast Friday at the Track, with plenty of hot sun for Pole Day and Bump Day, as temps climb more than ten degrees above the average. No rain in the Ripple for the Art Fair, and if you’re with me running the Geist Half Marathon (and 5k) this weekend, the temperatures will quickly warm from the low 60s at the start to 70+ by 10am Saturday. I’m also helping to host a Classic Car Show in Downtown Anderson Saturday afternoon as part of the “Little 500″ festivities. The Mustangs and Vettes will be gleaming under a blue sky.

Indianapolis has been dry since May 9th. The latest “Drought Monitor” released Thursday indicates that while there isn’t a drought yet, the area of “abnormally dry” conditions is expanding, covering much of north central Indiana north of Kokomo and Lafayette, and the southwestern corner of the state, includiing Evansville. Western Kentucky IS already into a drought.

We could get some rain relief Monday and Tuesday of next week, but overall I think the rest of the Merry Month Of May will be warmer and drier than average.

COAST TO COAST:
A combination of strong winds, low humidity, and ongoing dry weather will lead to another day of critical fire weather danger in the Four-Corners region of the southwest Friday. Red Flag Warnings remain in effect over a large area.

WIKI-POTEETIA:
The first solar eclipse in the U.S. in 18 years will arrive Sunday. It will be seen from Oregon & California to Texas, but not here in Indiana.

INDY ALMANAC:
Average high today is 73 and the average low is 53. Records are 90 and 35. Sunrise time is 6:28 and sun set is at 8:56, which means a minute more of daylight today compared to yesterday.

UV INDEX:
Today’s Index is 8/”Very High.” Sports fans: this is ONE area where Miami usually beats Indianapolis. The UV Index down there today is 11.

POLLEN COUNT:
The Indianapolis Pollen Count stays in the “Medium-High” zone all the way through Monday.

DETAILED INDIANAPOLIS FORECAST:
Today: Sunny and warmer. High 82.

Tonight: Clear. Low 59.

Saturday: Hot and sunny. High 86.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear. Becoming a little more muggy. Low 64.

Sunday: Hot and sunny, with a little more humidity. High 86.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 63.

Monday: Partly cloudy with a shower or storm chance. High 80.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy with a shower or storm chance. Low 58.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy with a slight shower or storm chance. High 78.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy with a slight shower or storm chance. Low 58.

Wednesday: Becoming mostly sunny. High 81.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear. Low 61.

Thursday: Mostly sunny. High 85.

Today: Sunny and warmer. High 82.

Tonight: Clear. Low 59.

Saturday: Hot and sunny. High 86.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear. Becoming a little more muggy. Low 63.

Sunday: Hot and sunny, with a little more humidity. High 86.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 63.

Monday: Partly cloudy with a shower or storm chance. High 80.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy with a shower or storm chance. Low 58.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy with a slight shower or storm chance. High 78.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy with a slight shower or storm chance. Low 58.

Wednesday: Becoming mostly sunny. High 81.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear. Low 61.

Thursday: Mostly sunny. High 85.