This past weekend brought some much-needed rain to the Hoosier state. Figure 1 shows the total amount that fell from July 13-19, 2022 while Figure 2 puts these amounts into climatological perspective. At least one-half inches fell with some locations reporting well over 4 inches! Was this enough to remove abnormally dry or drought conditions…Read more about Welcomed rain brings some relief[Read More]
Climate and Weather
The latest release of the U.S. Drought Monitor has expanded and intensified drought status across Indiana (Figure 1). This map reflects conditions through early this past Tuesday (July 5th) morning, as heavy rainfall was tracking across the northeastern counties. Probabilities of rainfall continue across the state over the next several days, but the challenge is…Read more about Scattered showers bring uncertainty[Read More]
There is no shortage of weather to discuss this week! Heavy damage to buildings, trees, and powerlines was reported in northern Indiana as a result of the Derecho that occurred on June 13. Unfortunately, there was a fatality associated with the storm. Fort Wayne International Airport recorded a 98-mph wind gust, which broke their record…Read more about Storms, High Heat, Variable Precipitation, and Dryness[Read More]
Rain continues to be spotty across Indiana with some areas getting the lion’s share while others are barely seeing a drop. When considering a recent 7-day period (June 1-7, 2022; Figure 1), central Indiana seemed to have missed out on most of the rain. This translated to central Indiana receiving around 5%-25% of what it…Read more about Indiana getting variable precipitation, Indiana State Climate Office[Read More]
A break from the heat has commenced as average temperatures dropped to 2-6◦F below normal this week. From May 8-14, average temperatures ran from 5◦F above normal in the southeast to 13◦F above normal in the northwest. Across the entire Midwest, there were 858 maximum and 659 minimum high temperature records broken or tied (Figure…Read more about Temperature Swings and Variable Precipitation Continues… Hot, Dry Conditions Forecasted to Return[Read More]
Indiana seems to experience the entirety of US weather, sometimes in the same day. The recent spate of cool, wet weather has left apple scab one happy fungus (Fig. 1). Most of the state just underwent an extreme scab period, and unfortunately, few of us could do anything about it because of the combination of…Read more about Wet weather & apple scab[Read More]
Last week was marked by cooler temperatures and lots of rain. Field days were limited and flowers were waiting to be planted. Then came this week. Temperatures are reaching the upper 80s to low 90s with dew point temperatures over 70F (anything over 60F or 65F starts to really feel muggy). The statewide rain spigot…Read more about From sweaters to shorts – Indiana spring keeps us guessing[Read More]
Lots of wet days, not a lot of rain It seems to be a big challenge these days to find two or more consecutive days without precipitation. What is interesting is the precipitation isn’t always coming in great amounts, but enough to impact any outdoor plans. For example, will it be dry enough for enough…Read more about Climate & Weather[Read More]
Spring temperatures It seems like spring is progressing slowly, and in some respects it is. At this time of the year, the rate of plant development depends largely on temperature. The warmer it is, the faster plants develop. Early in the season we hope for cool weather to slow down bud development. This is so…Read more about Spring temperatures, pollination- a refresher[Read More]
One way we measure how this year’s weather compares with previous years is by looking at the accumulation of “Growing Degree Days” (GDD). This allows us to see if we’re running ahead or behind previous years at the same date. In this graph showing temperatures over the last 12 years in Lafayette, we can see…Read more about Spring conditions[Read More]