After the brutal heatwave hit us as June transitioned to July, any future above-normal temperatures may seem normal for this time of year. The National Climate Prediction Center is indeed favoring more above-normal temperatures throughout the middle of July, so hopefully you have started acclimating to Indiana summers! The key is to hope humidity stays…Read more about Warm Temperatures and More Rain on the Way[Read More]
Climate and Weather
Spring has come and gone. Where has the time gone? Probably all those late nights spent at the youth ballpark. The average spring (March–May) temperature in Indiana was 55.9°F, which was 4°F above the 1991–2020 normal. That tied spring 2026 with spring 2024 as the third-warmest spring on record statewide. March and April did most…Read more about Cool May, Stormy June, Hotter Days Ahead[Read More]
Since last Friday, many parts of Indiana have seen a significant amount of rain (Figure 1). However, the spatial variability illustrates how there can never be enough ground observations and measurements to tell the entire story. In a 24-hour period over the weekend, an observer in Lafayette, Indiana, recorded 3.58”, and yet 3 miles to the…Read more about Are Cooler, Drier Conditions in Our Future?[Read More]
Temperatures across Indiana averaged 2°F below normal during the past 30 days (April 28–May 27) (Figure 1). Warmer-than-normal conditions earlier in April accelerated the start of the growing season, though cooler weather lately slowed Modified Growing Degree Day (MGDD) accumulation. Since April 1, MGDD totals have ranged from about 150 units in northern Indiana to…Read more about Dryness Returns to Northern Indiana as Southern Conditions Improve[Read More]
The first week of May certainly didn’t feel like May, as temperatures were 5-10°F below normal across the state (Figure 1). Daytime maximum temperatures struggled to reach 60°F across the northern half of the state, while southern areas only saw low 60s for much of the week. Using Indianapolis as a reference point, given its…Read more about May’s Cold Start And A Pattern Change[Read More]
Indiana saw a lot of precipitation in the early part of this past week, with rainfall totals of 0.5” or more in northern and far southwestern counties and more than 5” in south-central Indiana. In fact, an observer just south of Bedford, IN, reported a combined total of 5.80”! Figure 1 shows the 2-day total…Read more about An Impressive Amount of Rain[Read More]
Soil temperatures are often a guide for various timing decisions in agriculture. In the spring, once soil temperature (often at 4” depths) is sustained above a particular threshold (e.g., 50°F), field preparations and planting can progress, for example. Temperatures may also relate to pest and weed emergence. The Midwestern Regional Climate Center, in partnership with…Read more about A Look at Soil temperature Climatology[Read More]
Indiana has exceeded its previous maximum duration record of 46 weeks in drought (since May 20, 2025) since the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) began in 2000. The previous record was 44 consecutive weeks. This was a bit of a surprise when I saw it, since it includes the 2012 drought and multiple other drought periods…Read more about An Impressive Amount of Rain[Read More]
The Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC) has launched a new version of cli-MATE, its main online portal for United States climate data, analyses, statistics, maps, graphics, and other information. For over 40 years, MRCC has provided climate data to the public—initially through printed reports and later digitally as web access grew. The latest redesign of…Read more about Explore the New cli-MATE: Your self-service portal to U.S. climate data, maps, and more[Read More]
If you have any stakes in agriculture, you may have noticed a fairly rapid drying trend as summer has come to a close. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor on September 2, 76 percent of Indiana is considered abnormally dry—up from just 26 percent one week earlier. Moderate drought conditions have also expanded from less…Read more about Abnormally Dry and Drought Conditions Are On The Rise[Read More]