Across much of Indiana, March has provided above-normal precipitation (combined rain and melted snow) except for along the Ohio River where precipitation totals were only 25%-50% of what normally fell during March from 1991-2020. Storm systems continued to bring precipitation to the state through the very end of March, likely improving conditions slightly in this area. With respect to snowfall, March was not nearly as snowy as was anticipated given the La Niña phase that is ongoing. This means that the excess rainfall that has occurred throughout much of the state has led to flooding issue due to seasonably frozen soils. The average March temperature was warmer than normal across the state by a few degrees which encouraged shallow soil temperatures to increase to above-freezing levels for brief periods of time. However, those above-freezing soil temperature have not remained consistent for too long before the next cold system would pass over the state.
Climate outlooks are favoring above-normal temperatures to continue over the next few months with above-normal precipitation (Figure 1). It is still too soon to know how this may impact planting season. Climate models are suggesting above-normal precipitation outlooks will transition to near-normal outlooks by the May-June-July 3-month period. This provides some hope that the La Niña global weather patterns will likely start to break down in the April-May period allowing for more normal precipitation patterns to move into the Indiana area by the end of May and June.
Seasonal precipitation outlook, 2022