INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — High winds, severe storms and snow showers are all in the forecast over the next 24 hours.

Wind and severe weather threat:

Wednesday is a Storm Track 8 Weather Alert Day for two issues that we will be tracking throughout the day.

A wind advisory is in effect until 8 PM this evening. Look for winds to increase quickly after daybreak this morning. Wind gusts will range between 35 to 45 mph, with some isolated, stronger wind gusts possible throughout the day.

We are also tracking the threat for strong to severe thunderstorms this afternoon and this evening. A strong area of low pressure will be tracking across the northern Great Lakes, and an attached cold front will be dragging across our state this afternoon and this evening.

Much of our area is under a slight risk for severe weather, or a level two out of five risk. There is a level three out of five risk for extreme western counties of Indiana.

Damaging winds will be the primary threat, but some severe hail along with an isolated tornado or two cannot be ruled out, especially in western portions of the state.

The window of opportunity for severe storms will be between 4 PM and midnight.

Wednesday:

Today’s temperatures will remain quite mild, although not as warm as yesterday. They will likely be running about 10 to 12 degrees cooler than Tuesday’s highs but still about 10 degrees above average for this time of year, with highs in the mid-60s.

Wednesday night:

Once the severe weather threat passes tonight, a cold front will usher a rush of much colder temperatures moving into the area overnight. Look for daybreak temperatures in the morning to slip into the mid and upper 30s, with winds eased up a bit but still blustery enough to tank the wind chills for Thursday morning.

Thursday:

Some post-frontal precipitation will be hanging around for Thursday morning. We have some chilly rain showers but they could be flipping over to some snow showers, especially in the northern half of the state through much of the morning. Because of the warm ground, no accumulation is expected. But the combination of falling snow, colder temperatures, and blustery winds will make for a miserable Thursday.

High temperatures will top out only in the low to mid-40s.

Friday:

We should rebound nicely for Friday with a quick ridge of high pressure settling in. Winds should be much more relaxed, and temperatures will be right around or slightly above normal. Highs will top out in the mid to upper 50s.

Showers Friday evening:

A weak system moving through very late Friday night will bring some scattered showers to the area after midnight. Showers should be out of the area by the time we wake up for Saturday morning.

This weekend:

We’ll start the weekend off dry with partly cloudy skies and slightly cooler temperatures. Highs will top out in the upper 40s and lower 50s.

Another system dragging through the state on Sunday will bring scattered showers to the area. Highs will top out in the low to mid-50s.

Extended forecast:

We should open the work week up quiet and cool. Highs will only hit the upper 40s as we head into Monday and lower 50s with a slight chance for a shower on Tuesday. We will likely stay slightly below average through the middle of the week. There are some hints that by the end of the week, we should start to see a little bit more of a warm-up with slightly above-average temperatures going into the next weekend.