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]
Climate and Weather
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]
To say the last few months have been dry is a bit of an understatement. Since August 1st, only a sliver of Newton and Benton counties (northwest Indiana) and the tiniest speck of Warrick County (southwest Indiana) have had above-normal precipitation. Most of western Indiana has been near (but below) normal, while the rest of…Read more about October Favored to be Wetter than Normal[Read More]
Wednesday, September 6th, was the first day in what seemed like a long, long time that rain fell across most of Indiana. Amounts ranged from a trace to around an inch. Where the rain fell was incredibly spotty (i.e., no rain within a mile or two of significant rain), highlighting the very localized nature of…Read more about Outlooks Favoring Cooler Temperatures Over Next few Weeks[Read More]
Have you ever heard of the song by Glenn Frey, “The Heat Is On”? No pun intended, but the heat is certainly on! Heat index values over 110F have made things sticky and oppressive across the state. As I drove into work on Thursday morning, the humidity was so high that I had to defrost…Read more about The Heat and Humidity Is On, But Will It Last?[Read More]