Showers this afternoon and tonight near 54; rain likely Friday

Automatic update, 8:22 p.m.: NWS's forecast is back in line with the Scoop below. At 7:35 p.m. the La Porte airport reported fog/mist and 50 degrees. Over the next 12 hours, NWS's hour-by-hour forecast has rain likely from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. (up to 68%) and rain possible from 11 p.m. to 9 a.m. (up to 45%). There are no watches, warnings, or advisories for La Porte County right now.

Dry this morning, but take an umbrella after about 3 p.m. Today, NWS says: Patchy drizzle before 6 a.m., then a chance of rain showers. Cloudy, with a high near 54. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Tonight: Rain showers. Cloudy, with a low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 80%. The La Porte airport at 3:55 a.m.: cloudy and 52.

Friday: showers likely (70%), high near 49; Friday night a chance of showers (50%); gusts as high as 30 mph. Saturday: a chance of showers (30%), high near 49. Sunny and dry Sunday through Tuesday, highs 54 to 59.

What changed in NWS's forecast since yesterday's Scoop: Saturday now has a 30% chance of rain, today's chance of rain is now 50% (from 30%) and tonight's chance of rain is now 80% (from 60%). NWS Northern Indiana forecasters' key messages this morning: "Patchy drizzle and showers at times, especially this afternoon. Not as warm with highs only in the 50s." "Lake effect rain tonight through Friday, tapering off Saturday morning." Yesterday we said a high of 68; the La Porte airport got 70.

Right now there are no watches, warnings or advisories for La Porte County or for Porter and Lake counties next door. SPC shows no thunderstorm or severe risk here through Saturday, and WPC shows no flooding-rain risk at La Porte through Monday.