A run of record heat, 20 degrees above normal I must add, has finally reached it's end and our stretch of consecutive days above normal could soon be snapped, which extended to 25 today. Summer's last grasp pushed the total number of 90s for the year to 26 marking the 8th most for a year since 2000. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday's high of 92 was a record setter for each day surpassing the old record of 89 that was set in 1971, 1897, and 1953 respectively. Additionally, 92 was good enough to beat the previous all time hottest October day on record of 91 set October 8, 2007. Tuesday and Wednesday became only the 5th and 6th time we have seen 90+ in October out of a total of 4,558 October days on record since 1871.
While not a record, we did come close to having some of our warmest mornings for this late in the year too. The low of 69 on September 28th, 68 on September 30th & October 1st, and 70 on October 2nd were all the second warmest lows for each respective date. Going a little further back we did set a record for the highest minimum temperature on September 11 when the low was only 73 for the date. We had the 2nd warmest low for September 12 at 71. The month of September closed out as the warmest in nearly 90 years. The average temperature of 73.7 bested the previous average of 73.2 set in 1925 and later tied in 1933. Only 2 months of September have made it in the Top 10 warmest over the past 75 years.
Indiana is Parched
The dry soils continue to be problematic and might have helped aid in our recent heat spell. 32 out of the past 37 days did not see any measurable precipitation but the 5 days that did barely put up half of an an inch total. We are running 3" behind since September 1st and areas across Indiana that are abnormally dry have been expanded into Marion County in this weeks update from the Drought Center. Also 29 out of 51 counties across the state (particularly for the folks in Southern Indiana) are in a moderate to severe drought. At this type of magnitude this is where crops go poor, lawns go dormant, creek and pond levels drop, and the threat for brush fires increase. Further deterioration would result in the loss of crops, trees/shrubs, and shortage of water. Last month was the 3rd driest September in Indianapolis.
Fall Finally Arrives, In Full Swing
A cold front passed this afternoon and things are in the process of ushering in some of the coolest air of the season. We did reach a high temperature of 81 today and it could be weeks or maybe even months before we are this warm again. With the shift to a NW air flow, temperatures will dip into the upper 40 or lower 50s across Central Indiana Friday morning and highs in the afternoon will barely make it out of the 60s. We will nearly duplicate this for Saturday. Both days being rather pleasant with plenty of sunshine and seasonal temperatures. Then, clouds will quickly blanket the city as we go into Saturday night and this will offer up our next chance for rain that is desperately needed. This event, however, may not be well organized, but the opportunity will exist into Sunday. Any rain will be a welcomed sight for all areas of the state. Further rain chances will continue to be minimal for the first half of this month.
As the sun angle continues to lower, night has now become longer than days. The chill will continue to deepen in the weeks ahead and many will inevitably reach the first frost and freeze of the season pretty soon, which fittingly so, is to be expected for the month of October. The average date of the first Fall frost at 36 degrees or lower is on October 11. The average date for the first fall freeze at 32 degrees or lower is October 14. The average date for the first fall freeze at 28 degrees or lower is November 2. Our last freeze was 185 days ago on April 1st when the thermometer dipped to 24. The longest growing season on record lasted 232 days in 1872 (March 27-November 13) and 1922 (April 2-November 19). Most recently, we had a growing season of 219 days in 2017 (March 24-October 28)
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