Convective outlook for the period 8 a.m. EDT April 3 to 8 a.m. EDT April 4. Green area: Non-severe thunderstorms. Yellow area: Slight risk of severe thunderstorms.

Most of Indiana has a slight risk of severe thunderstorms between 8 a.m. EDT Thursday and 8 a.m. EDT Friday, according to the Day 3 Convective Outlook that the National Weather Service (NWS) Storm Prediction Center (SPC)  issued at 3:29 a.m. EDT today. The slight risk area includes Huntington, Wells, Blackford and Jay Counties of northeastern Indiana. It does not currently include Whitley, Allen or Adams County, Indiana or any of the Ohio counties served by the northern Indiana NWS office.

The potential exists for a widespread severe event Thursday — with damaging wind, large hail and tornadoes possible — especially from the lower-and mid-Mississippi Valley into the western Tennessee Valley, according to the Day 3 Convective Outlook. Meteorologists anticipate that they might need to upgrade the risk level from “slight” to “moderate” in portions of the above-described area in later outlooks.

The main threat for Indiana will be overnight Thursday into Friday morning, as storms develop along an advancing cold front. Meteorologists expect the storms to grow into one or more mesoscale convective systems.

Much could change between now and Thursday but this is a good time for SKYWARN storm spotters to make sure their equipment is ready to go and to keep an eye on subsequent convective outlooks.

Others, especially anyone who has planned outdoor activities Thursday, should prepare to change their plans as the day draws closer.

We’ll get our next outlook for the period early tomorrow morning, when the SPC issues a Day 2 Convective Oulook.