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]
Climate and Weather
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]
The Midwestern Regional Climate Center recently released a freeze date tool. It makes it easy to find historical temperature information that may help growers plan. This article provides a quick introduction to the tool. Many readers are familiar with the average first fall frost and last spring frost dates, and the frost-free growing season between…Read more about A Look at the Freeze Date Tool from Midwestern Regional Climate Center[Read More]
After another wet weekend and cooler temperatures to start this week, it may be surprising to hear that conditions will be changing back to warm and dry for the next several weeks. Climate models are strongly favoring above-normal temperature throughout the rest of September with a slight favoring of below-normal precipitation. Abnormally dry conditions continue…Read more about Warm, Dry Conditions Ahead[Read More]
For the second week in a row, the much-appreciated cooler temperatures remained from August 17-23. The preliminary state average temperature was 71.2◦F, which was 1.2◦F below the 1991-2020 normal. The largest temperature departures were observed in central and southern Indiana, where departures were up to 2.1◦F below normal. After a warm, wet beginning to August,…Read more about Cooler Temperatures and Below Normal Rainfall; Warmer Weather Returning August 24, 2022[Read More]
July temperatures averaged 1◦F above normal but had a couple of periods of extreme heat. Twelve stations recorded maximum temperatures in excess of 100◦F. Portions of the month were cooler than normal, which gave way to warmer temperatures again in the last week of July. The heat and humidity continued during the first week of…Read more about Warm Temperatures and Rain Dominate Early August with Cooler Weather Inbound[Read More]