After several weeks of little-to-no rain, Indiana welcomed some much-needed precipitation over the last several days. While amounts ranged from 1-to-3 inches (except for a few counties in west-northwest Indiana (Figure 1)), the state is still several inches from recovering from the deficit and relieving most impacts. The U.S. Drought Monitor this week (based upon…Read more about Our Hope for Rain Came True. Is it Enough?[Read More]
Climate and Weather
Temperatures warmed into the 80s by the end of Memorial Day weekend, but low dew point temperatures made the heat bearable. The air felt dry, and any time I would stand up from my lawn chair, I would be shocked by static electricity. The state average temperature between May 1 and May 30 was 62.3F,…Read more about Dry Conditions Continue, Drought Conditions Expected to Worsen[Read More]
Cool mornings and warm afternoons have made conditions pleasant across the state. Through the first 17 days of May, temperatures ran 1.5◦F above normal (Figure 1). Indiana Climate Divisions 1 and 7 had the largest departures, which were 2.1◦F and 2.0◦F above normal, respectively. Since April 1, growing degree days (GDD) have accumulated between 260…Read more about Recent Localized Rainfall; Warm Temperatures and Below-normal Precipitation Forecasted[Read More]
It is May, the sun is shining, of course the wind is blowing, and the weather forecast is calling for warmer temperatures. Things are looking up from here. Despite the warm start and cool end to April, the preliminary statewide average temperature ran 1.2°F above normal (Figure 1). The largest temperature departures occurred in northern…Read more about Warmer Temperatures on the Way[Read More]
Most of us know a temperature lower than 32°F would kill tender vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, melons, and cucumbers. Home gardeners would wait to plant those crops after the last frost passed, but commercial farmers may take the risk of planting earlier to capture early-season premium prices. Farmers use various strategies, i.e., high tunnels, low…Read more about Check Soil Temperatures Before Planting Cold Sensitive Crops[Read More]
Through the first 18 days of April, temperatures ran 5.5◦F above normal statewide (Figure 1). The largest deviations occurred in central and northern Indiana. Despite the wet start to the month, wind, abundant sun, low humidity and reduced precipitation accounted for drying conditions across the state. Statewide, precipitation averaged 69 percent of normal. Surprisingly, tillage,…Read more about Return to Below-Normal Precipitation, Variable Temperatures, and Enhanced Freeze Risk[Read More]
Indiana experienced near-normal temperatures for March as the state averaged 40.9◦F, despite the record warmth at the beginning of the month (Figure 1). Weather stations in central, southern, and eastern Indiana experienced record-breaking high temperatures during the first week of March (Figure 2). Cold weather returned during the third week, with several daily low maximum…Read more about Stormy End to March, Elevated Chances for Above-Normal Temperatures through Mid-April[Read More]
This Spring has already tested emergency response services. Much of Indiana is experiencing severe weather (thunderstorms, heavy rain, strong straight-line winds, and tornadoes). Indiana PREPared (www.inprepared.org) has a number of resources about severe spring weather events. Two specific sites to check out are our “Spring & Summer Severe Weather” page and “Flood Resources for Educators…Read more about Emergency Preparedness[Read More]
As we near springtime in Indiana, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Much like the winter season, which has produced warm and relatively wet conditions across most of the state, the Climate Prediction Center calls for continued above-average temperatures and precipitation. The one exception is northwest Indiana in a line from…Read more about Warm, Wet Spring Predicted for Indiana[Read More]
Chance for above-normal precipitation in about 2 weeks, but for this time of the year, that doesn’t mean much. Freezing temperatures and even some snow fell in Indiana earlier this week forcing us to accept that winter is coming. Figure 1 shows how much colder than normal those minimum temperatures got early Tuesday, October 18th….Read more about Brrrr, that was Cold![Read More]