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 the USDA’s Midwest Climate Hub, developed a soil temperature climatology tool that provides historical 4” soil temperature summaries based on data from 1991-2020. A user can select a temperature threshold between 30° F and 60° F to see the earliest, average and latest dates when the 7-day average temperature either rose above (e.g., spring) or fell below (e.g., fall) that value (see Figure 1 for an example). In contrast, a user can select a particular date (e.g., April 20th) and view the coldest, average, and warmest 4” 7-day average soil temperatures. To view current observed 4” soil temperatures, the Purdue Mesonet provides real-time observations for multiple locations around the state.
Figure 1. Screenshot of the 4” soil temperature climatology tool using a 50°F temperature threshold.
Over the past 2 weeks, precipitation amounts have been slightly above normal in northern Indiana, whereas they have been slightly below normal in central and southern Indiana (Figure 2). This has allowed conditions across north-central Indiana to stay in the “Abnormally Dry (D0)” category for the U.S. Drought Monitor, whereas southwestern Indiana’s “Abnormally Dry (D0)” area has slightly expanded (Figure 3). The 7-day precipitation forecast has rain continuing into the early part of this weekend, then offering us a break for a few days before the next round is expected at the end of next week (with some chillier overnight lows). Total amounts over the 7-day period (April 16-23) are predicted to be around an inch across most of the state.
Figure 2. Precipitation departures (in inches) from normal (1991-2020) for April 2-15, 2026.
Figure 3. U.S. Drought Monitor status for conditions as of early Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
Looking ahead to the 6-to-14-day (April 21-29) climate outlooks, temperatures are slightly favored to be above normal early in the period, then return to normal by the end. Precipitation is expected to be above normal across Indiana for the period, with great confidence in above-normal amounts in southern counties.