FRIDAY MORNING EDITION · WEATHER FIRST

A dry Friday before a wet weekend

Enjoy the quieter weather today. Drier, less-humid air remains over La Porte before repeated rounds of rain and embedded thunderstorms return late tonight and continue through the weekend.

Published September 18, 2026, 8:36 a.m. Central · By Daniel Schlief · Based on official and attributed sources

Today: the quieter window

NWS Northern Indiana expects drier and less-humid air through today and this evening. La Porte should remain mostly cloudy, with a high near the mid-70s and an easterly breeze around 10 mph.

Weekend timing: first round Saturday morning

The first organized round of rain and embedded thunderstorms is favored from Saturday morning into early Saturday afternoon. A temporary lull is possible later Saturday, followed by additional rain and storms Saturday night into Sunday.

Forecast uncertainty: The exact path and timing of the heaviest bands remain uncertain. Repeated storms over the same locations could produce torrential rainfall and localized flooding, but the morning NWS discussion said model spread was still too large to issue a Flood Watch.

Severe-weather and alert check

The NWS discussion places the better chance for any isolated severe storm south of U.S. 30 later Saturday afternoon or evening, and describes the severe risk as low. The official alert feed listed no active watches, warnings or advisories for La Porte County at 8:37 a.m. Central Friday. Alerts can change after publication, so use the live county feed before travel.

Roads, power and practical planning

No specific new La Porte County road closure or NIPSCO outage is asserted in this edition. If heavy rain develops this weekend, slow down, use headlights and never drive through floodwater. Check INDOT TrafficWise and the NIPSCO outage map for live conditions.

Verified weekend plans

Saturday: The 27th annual Sunflower Fair along Michigan Avenue in downtown La Porte. The organizer lists more than 100 vendors and family activities, but does not currently publish event hours or an admission price. Check for weather-related changes before leaving.
Sunday, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.: Farmed & Forged at Monroe and Lincolnway. Admission is free; purchases are extra. Rain and thunderstorms could affect outdoor plans.

Direct sources

Checked September 18, 2026, 8:36 a.m. Central. Forecasts and alerts can change after publication. This is a daily digest, not continuous emergency monitoring.