Rain is on the way to central Indiana, and it will be heavy at times tonight

Tuesday was a warm, humid day with highs in the 80s in spite of the combination of clouds and haze. The haze is due to smoke from Canadian wildfires. Canadian wildfire season runs from May through October and the season is off to an active start with 1,727 wildfires so far. 203 fires are active as of this writing and 104 of them are considered to be out of control. 2.2 million acres across Canada have been burned so far, roughly the size of the state of Delaware, and more than 25,000 people have been evacuated.

Some relief from the haze is likely as a cold front approaches the state. Scattered showers and storms are likely this evening ahead of the front. The frontal boundary will stall across the Ohio Valley and give us a daily chance for rain through Saturday and up to an inch and a half rain is likely. Severe storms are not expected but heavy downpours will be likely from some of the stronger storms. We ended meteorological Spring (March, April and May) above average on rainfall by 2.59″ and on the average, June is our wettest month of the year with 4.95″ of rain. Now that we are into June, the solar angle is stronger. That, combined with longer daylight hours, makes this the time of the year when we lose nearly a quarter-inch of moisture per day due to increase evaporation. So the rain is needed.

Highs will be in the 80s Thursday and in the 70s Friday. Along with the rain and warm temperatures, humidity will be high as well. The cold front will move across the state Saturday morning and bring an end to the rain. Behind the cold front we’ll have sunny skies, lower humidity and temperatures in the 70s this weekend.

The Pollen Count and Air Quality were in the moderate range Wednesday.

Wildfire smoke has brought haze to the Ohio Valley and we need some rain.

June is off to a mild start.

Showers and storms will spread statewide tonight.

Scattered showers and storms are likely Thursday.

Scattered showers and storms will continue through Friday.

Rain will clean the air, cool temperatures down and lower the humidity by this weekend.

The 6 to 10 day outlook is calling for a warm, dry weather pattern.