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]
Climate and Weather
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]
It seems like the last couple of months have been unseasonably warm, but when we look at the data, it’s not so clear cut. It’s true that in Lafayette we’ve had days with highs of 65 and 70 in late February and early March, but also a lot of low daily temperatures closer to 40….Read more about Spring temperatures[Read More]
Meteorological spring started March 1st. Astronomical spring started March 20th. Baseball fans might consider the first day of spring to be Opening Day (March 29th this year). Regardless of when one defines the start of spring, so far it has been mostly on the cooler and wetter side. I have yet to meet anyone over…Read more about A cool, wet start to spring[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]