There is some very exciting news this week for Indiana with respect to the U.S. Drought Monitor. For the first time since April 25, 2023, the entire state is void of any Abnormally Dry (D0) or Drought (D1-D4) conditions. I would include the map, but … drumroll, please … there’s nothing to show! This is…Read more about Indiana is Entirely Free of Drought[Read More]
Climate and Weather
There was an interesting conversation among drought experts this week about how best to communicate drought, particularly when surface conditions appear so saturated. I thought of Indiana a lot during this discussion because with all the rain the state has received over the last several weeks (over twice the normal amount!), there is localized flooding,…Read more about Wet Conditions Continue[Read More]
Something exciting happened on April 8th that many of you might be glad is over and no longer filling your news feed – the total solar eclipse. The Indiana State Climate Office, however, is now getting a chance to dig into the data collected from the Purdue Mesonet – a collection of 14 weather stations…Read more about Weather Impacts From Eclipse[Read More]
An old saying predicts that March will go out “like a lamb”. Another saying predicts April’s wetness with “April showers bring May flowers”. A lot seems to have happened across Indiana since April began, but March finished the month with below-normal rainfall (except for the northern counties) and above-normal temperatures. Does this describe conditions that…Read more about As the Saying Go…[Read More]
The Natural Resources Conservation Service produces this weekly report using data and products from the National Water and Climate Center and other agencies. The report focuses on seasonal snowpack, precipitation, temperature, and drought conditions in the U.S. This report was published on March 14, 2024, and can be downloaded HERE https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2024-03/dmrpt-20240314.pdf
I have been asked a lot about what the unusually high temperatures we have been experiencing lately will mean for insect pests this season. I don’t have a good answer and often must respond with “it depends,” which is not very satisfying to those who ask. However, in exploring the question, I found the seasonal…Read more about Seasonal Insect Pressure Forecast – Update for Indiana[Read More]
Solar energy is responsible for so many processes on Earth’s surface. From growing plants and driving water movement across the planet to providing heat and powering solar panels, solar energy plays a central role in almost everything. On April 8, 2024, the total solar eclipse will be viewed across the Hoosier State. Find out how…Read more about Eclipse Citizen Scientists Call-Out[Read More]
Precipitation is one of the most variable weather phenomena with such an incredible local impact on communities. Too little can lead to drought and water supply issues, whereas too much can lead to flooding and infrastructure damage. Across Indiana, there are approximately 120 volunteer observers (Figure 1) who provide daily temperature and precipitation data to…Read more about Volunteer Weather Observers Needed to Help Measure Rain, Hail, and Snow[Read More]
Strawberry growers are at the forefront of the battle against spring frost/freeze challenges. This task undoubtedly is getting more complicated with the current weather. We will have a few cold nights next week with forecasted temperatures around the middle 20s °F in Vincennes. Strawberry growers in Southern Indiana are considering whether to implement frost/freeze protection…Read more about Plasticulture Strawberry Crop Status in Southern Indiana[Read More]
Hoosiers are hardy, but that wasn’t a quality that was important this winter. Meteorological winter—December 1 to February 29—is drawing to a close, and it doesn’t quite feel like it ever really happened. There was one notable cold weather outbreak in mid-January, but besides that, temperatures were generally at or above normal. Even when accounting…Read more about Winter: Where art thou?[Read More]