For the second straight year, I’m with Purdue in the NCAA tournament with WLFI reporter/photog star Matt Wettersten, but now in Spokane. It feels like Groundhog Day because I was with the Boilermakers last March in Portland, Oregon where they won twice to get to the Sweet 16.

It took us three and a half hours to fly to Salt Lake City before catching a two-hour flight to Washington, a long trip. Spokane looks and feels like a smaller version of Portland with loads of fir trees and mountains, beautiful, but strange that we’re back in the great Northwest.

We were also the only station to get the Boilers arriving at the team hotel, and not a lot of smiles. Coach Matt Painter came off with his wife and girls, but didn’t look happy. But I can’t blame him. A potentially great season has fallen apart with the loss of Rob Hummel and Lewis Jackson was in his walking boot, standard procedure with a foot injury, but he needs to be healthy.

Our 12-hour day is about over, but this three-hour time difference drives me crazy, especially since I’ll be ready to sleep at 7 Pacific time!

Ready to check out Gonzaga campus..the poor Zags are across the country in Washington DC for the tourney!

Spring officially begins on Saturday, but it will be Spring-like through the start of the weekend.  With more sunshine on Thursday and Friday, temperatures will be nearing 70 degrees.

There is an interesting storm system setting up for the weekend.  Right now most of Saturday will be dry, with rain chances arriving late afternoon or early evening.  A few thunderstorms are possible and as colder air arrives, the rain may mix with snow on Sunday.

Stay with Forecast 8 for any and all updates on the weekend outlook.

The book tells about roles played in the Bush Administration by Indiana Republicans Dan Coats, Al Hubbard, and Steve Goldsmith.  It also recounts some of Bush’s visit to a Midwest Republican Leadership Conference held in Indianapolis.

Rove will be at the Borders in Noblesville at 6pm Sunday.

It is a significant endorsement.  The 5th covers a lot of rural territory and the endorsement could make a difference, at least that’s what Murphy believes.

The weather should be sunny and mild through Friday. A rather potent storm will move into the region this weekend. Showers and storms will develop by Saturday night and then change over to wet snow on Sunday as colder air moves in.

There will be a few passing clouds overnight and on Wednesday.  There will be enough sun for highs in the 60s on Wednesday.

The weather pattern will continue to warm through the end of the week.

Forecast highs will be in the middle and upper 60s on Thursday and Friday and Saturday.  There is a change on the way for the weekend.  As a cold front arrives, thunderstorms are in the forecast for late Saturday.  Rain chances continue on Sunday and as colder air arrives, there might be a few flurries too.

There continues to be minor flooding along the White and Wabash Rivers.

Wednesday is the state tornado drill day.  You will have time in the morning and in the evening to practice what you would do in the event of severe weather.  There will be a tornado drill between 10 and 11 in the morning and 7 and 8 in the evening.  Stay with Forecast 8 for the latest.  Wednesday is also St. Patrick’s Day and there is a parade in downtown Indianapolis.  Here is the forecast for the day.

There will be a few clouds along the Ohio River, but the main storm system will be along the Gulf Coast.  This is were the rain will fall too.  We are concerned with the area of high pressure.  This high will bring dry weather to central Indiana, so the hardest part of our forecast will be just how warm for the rest of the week.