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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Steamy conditions with near-record heat are possible today. Severe weather threats are possible tonight and Friday night.

We’re monitoring a few isolated thunderstorms that developed early this morning. These are ahead of a warm front moving toward the Midwest for our Thursday. Any morning convection will be extremely spotty and should move out by mid-morning.

We are expecting our hottest day of the year today as muggy conditions and warm temperatures surge into the Midwest. Look for a good amount of sunshine on Thursday with highs in the mid to upper 80s. A few areas could approach 90°F this afternoon. The record high in Indianapolis for today is 88°F, set in 2001.

We will be on weather alert this evening with a chance of strong to severe thunderstorms developing along a frontal boundary. Most of central Indiana is under a slight risk for severe storms. All modes of severe weather are possible, with damaging wind gusts being the primary concern this evening.

The timeframe for severe weather is from 7 PM tonight through around 3 AM Friday morning. There is still some uncertainty regarding this severe weather threat. A strong cap, or warm layer of air in the upper atmosphere, could limit thunderstorm development this evening. In some scenarios, we could see little to no storm activity. However, it must be stressed that all ingredients are in place, and any storm that does develop could turn severe during the evening.

Overnight lows will be quite muggy, falling only to the upper 60s and lower 70s.

Friday will also be warm and muggy. Much of the daytime hours will likely be dry with highs in the mid-80s.

There is another risk, potentially higher, for severe thunderstorms in central Indiana late Friday afternoon into Friday night. A system moving through the Great Lakes will interact with significant instability across our state.

The timing for severe weather on Friday will likely be between 5 PM and 11 PM. All modes of severe weather are possible, with damaging winds as the primary concern, though very large hail and a few strong tornadoes cannot be ruled out, especially along and south of Interstate 70.

Our in-house Future Cast model suggests the potential for a mesoscale convective system (MCS) to develop in Illinois during the mid-afternoon hours. This line of storms will then move into central and southern Indiana during the late afternoon and early evening. The core of this MCS will likely be along the Ohio River, but some severe threats could extend northward. The severe weather threat should clear as we approach midnight.

Aside from a few spotty showers before daybreak on Saturday, we should have a pleasant weekend with no significant issues for qualifying for the Indianapolis 500. Expect high temperatures in the mid-70s on Saturday. Sunday looks equally nice, with highs also reaching the mid-70s.

Our pattern looks more unsettled heading into next week with near or slightly above-normal temperatures. There’s a slight chance of showers and storms during the second half of Monday, with highs in the low to mid-70s.

An upper-level low settling in for Tuesday and Wednesday could bring better chances for rain and thunderstorms midweek.

A slight cooldown with highs in the upper 60s is possible late next week, including Carb Day next Friday. An early look at race weekend shows temperatures in the low to mid-70s for Saturday and Sunday.