Over the last 30 days (July 18-August 15), the state average temperature was 73.5◦F, which was essentially normal. Average temperatures ranged from 0.9◦F below normal in northwestern Indiana to 0.5◦F above normal in southern Indiana (Figure 1). The heat was not missing, though, as July 26 through 28 was rather warm across the Midwest. Minimum…Read more about Short-term Drought Relief, Forecast Turning Hot, Dry Again[Read More]
Climate and Weather
Recent precipitation events have allowed periodic rainfall to hit most places across Indiana. Over the last few weeks, at least half an inch of rain has fallen with some areas in central and northern Indiana receiving two to four inches! This has meant that Abnormally Dry (D0) and Moderate Drought (D1) conditions have not be…Read more about Drought continues gradual improvement with no hazards of concern in near future[Read More]
For the past seven weeks, abnormally dry conditions gradually spread and intensified across Indiana to eventually cover over 98% of the state. Conditions were looking dire, those with late-planted crops may have started getting worried, and water supply managers may have started expressing quiet concerns for those reliant upon groundwater. Then the rain came. Over…Read more about Lots of rain. Is the drought over?[Read More]
Below-normal temperatures continued through the first 21 days of June as the state average temperature was 68.3°F, which was 1.8°F below the 1991-2020 climatological normal. Temperature departures were 1-5°F below normal across the state, with larger departures in eastern and southern Indiana (Figure 1, Left). Maximum temperatures were near normal for the entire state, and…Read more about Drought Expands and Expected to Continue[Read More]
The last several weeks have seen very little precipitation across Indiana. Figure 1 illustrates how much was received compared to the climatological normal amount from May 9 through June 7. The entire state received amounts less than normal (where normal would be 100 percent on the map) with central and northeastern Indiana having received less…Read more about How serious is this drought and will it continue?[Read More]
Temperatures throughout the state remained pleasant, but low temperatures briefly dipped into the upper 30s and low 40s as a strong cold front pushed through the Midwest. Through the first 23 days of May, Indiana average temperatures were 0.3◦F above normal (Figure 1). Climate Divisions 1 and 7 had the largest departures, which were 0.9◦F…Read more about Near-Normal Temperatures with Strong Cold Front; Sparse Precipitation Forecasted[Read More]
The weather has been absolutely beautiful over the past few days. Temperatures have finally rebounded, vegetation is green again, and agricultural crops are beginning to emerge from the freshly planted fields. Despite the warming temperatures, we still have not dug ourselves out of the below-normal start to May. Through the first ten days of the…Read more about Pleasant Conditions have Arrived, but Below-Normal Temperatures and Precipitation Expected[Read More]
Despite the cooler weather we’ve experienced the last couple of weeks, temperatures from April 1st through 26th averaged 2.3°F above normal for the entire state (Figure 1). Departures have steadily declined as the weather pattern shifted to cold and dry as a result of an upper atmosphere blocking pattern. Since April 21st, temperatures averaged 9-12°F…Read more about Below-Normal Temperatures and Precipitation Continue[Read More]
Much like March, April has gotten off to a warm start. Through the first eleven days, the state average temperature was 5.1◦F above the 1991-2020 climatological normal (Figure 1). High temperatures ranged from 60-70◦F, which was anywhere from 3-7◦F above normal. Low temperatures were not as anomalous, but slightly above normal for most of the…Read more about Warm Temperatures, Dry Window Allows for Field Activity[Read More]
Something happened when the calendar switched from March to April. Spring finally sprung. As we discussed in the last issue of FFF, spring temperatures are so important because the rate of crop development in the spring is directly related to how warm it is. Here in Lafayette, April average temperatures have been in the 50s…Read more about Spring temperatures[Read More]