| Date of New Record 2012 |
Record High Temperature |
Previous Record High Temperature |
Record Highest Minimum Temp. |
Previous Record Highest Minimum Temp. |
| JAN. 31st | N/A | N/A | 50° | 48° (1988) |
| FEB. 29th | N/A | N/A | 45° | 44° (1976) |
| MAR 14th | 81° | 79° (1990) |
N/A | N/A |
| MAR 15th | 80° | 77° (1977) |
N/A | N/A |
| MAR 17th | 77° | 76° (1894) |
N/A | N/A |
| MAR. 18th | 80° | 76° (1903) |
60° TIED |
60° (1874) |
| MAR. 19th | 82° | 78° (1921) |
64° | 60° (1903) |
| MAR. 20th | 83° | 80° (1894) |
63° | 62° (1921) |
| MAR. 21st | 84° | 82° (2007) |
62° | 58° (2011) |
| APR. 3rd | 84° | 83° (1946) |
N/A | N/A |
| JUN 28th | 104° | 101° (1934) |
N/A | N/A |
| JUN 29th | 103° | 100° (1934) |
N/A | N/A |
| JUN 30th | 97° TIED |
97° (1933) |
N/A | N/A |
| July 5th | 103° | 99° (1936) |
N/A | N/A |
| July 6th | 105° | 99° (1988) |
N/A | N/A |
| July 7th | 105° | 101° (1936) |
N/A | N/A |
| July 16th | 98° TIED |
98° (1988) |
N/A | N/A |
July 2012
We are halfway through the month and we are seeing one of our most warmest and driest opens to July. We've had our hottest days of the year this month with only trace amounts of precipitation. We are looking to set a few more records this week. First, the record high of 98° set back in 1988 for Today has been tied. Second, we are looking at the longest driest stretch for the city of Indianapolis in Indianapolis History. Since record keeping began in 1871, the NWS recorded a 45 day stretch of dry days with only 0.09" during the period of August 16th-September 26, 1908. We tied that record yesterday (June 1-July 15). As of 6PM today, that record has also been broken. Thirdly, the record high temperature for tomorrow of 100° set back in 1887 could also be in jeopardy.The image below is a snapshot of a tweet the NWS posted on their twitter page. This is the 4th record identified that could be set this week.
The hottest days of the month occurred July 5th & 6th when the thermometer read 105°. Our coolest daytime high for the month is 89° recorded July 14th, which snapped a string of 17 consecutives days with temps 90°+. The warmest low temp for not only this month but for the 21st century is 81° set at 4:56 the morning of Saturday, July 7th. The coolest mornings recorded is the 2nd, 9th, and 13th at 70°. As mentioned above, the thermometer hasn't dipped below 70 for 17, well now 18 days. Our low this morning was 74°.
The avg high temperature through July 15th sits at 96.7°. This is 11.7° above normal.
The avg low temperature through July 15th sits at 73.3°. This is 7.3° above normal.
The avg monthly temperatures through July 15th sits at 85°. This is 9.5° above normal.
We are now running 2.39" below normal in precpitation for the month through July 15th.
Meteorological Summer(June-July-August)
We are now halfway through the season and its been a pretty warm one. Around 80% of the past 45 days have been above normal. The average high for this season is 89.9° thats 7° above nomal. The average low for this season is 66.2°, thats 2.8° above normal. The average temp for the season is at 78°. This temperature is 4.8° above the normal 73.2° for this period (June 1-Jul 15th). This season is good for the 5th warmest summer on record. Here's the current top five list:
1) 1874---78.6°
2) 1936---78.5°
3) 1934---78.2°
4) 2010---78.1°
2012---78°
5) 2011---77.6°
Here's the list of days where precipitation has fallen this season (since June 1st):
1) June 1st-----Trace Amounts
2) June 2nd----0.03"
3) June 3rd-----Trace Amounts
4) June 4th-----0.02"
5) June 11th---Trace Amounts
6) June 29th---0.04"
7) June 30th--Trace Amounts
8) July 1st------Trace Amounts
9) July 8th------Trace Amounts
10) July 14th--Trace Amounts
As you can see we've only picked up 0.09" since June 1st. We've only had 3 out of the past 45 days with measurable rainfall. We have yet to record any measurable rainfall for July. Measurable Rainfall is anything 0.01" or higher. Only trace amounts this month. The record for driest July was set last year at 0.47". Could this month go down as the driest July on Record? Also, a quick reminder, the driest month ever is 0.07" set back in March 1910.
Typically, May-June-July (solar summer) is the wettest months of the year. The average precipitation during this period is 13.85" (though July 30th) while the avg is 11.69" through July 15th. So far, we've only recorded 2.79" which is 9.05" below normal through July 15th. We've only recorded 10 days with measurable rainfall since May 1st. For quick reference here's a list of days where precipitation fell for May.
1) May 1st-----1.48"
2) May 4th----Trace
3) May 6th----Trace
4) May 7th----0.48"
5) May 8th----0.01"
6) May 9th----0.13"
7) May 21st---0.10"
8) May 29th---0.36"
9) May 31st---0.14"
| SUN | MON | TUES | WED | THURS | FRI | SAT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Temp | 96 | 93 | 93 | 93 | 95 | 91 | 89 |
| Low Temp | 76 | 70 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 70 | 72 |
| Precip | TRACE | NONE | NONE | NONE | NONE | NONE | TRACE | Peak Wind Gust (MPH) | 29 | 22 | 20 | 24 | 23 | 18 | 20 |
The average high for last week was 92.8° while the avg low was 72°. This puts the weeks avg temp at 82.4°.
This Week
We'll start the week off hot, sunny, & dry as high pressure expands in the state. We are looking at temps in the upper 90s. Again, we've tied the record high today and we'll also challenge record highs for Tuesday (100° set in 1887) and Wednesday (100° set in 1954). A weak cold front will approach Wednesday offering small isolated chance of thunderstorms late this week but some, again, will not see a drop but the chance is there. Cloud deck and rain will be dependent on Thursdays and possibly even Fridays High Temperatures. I'm looking at low to mid 90s. If we are dry under mostly sunny skies once again, we'll push upper 90s to near 100, but I don't think we'll get that hot.
More hot temps coming for the weekend and much of next week. Typically, mid July to early August marks the dog days of summer. Which is the hottest part of the season for much of the nation. For Indianapolis, our average high drops from 85 in July to 84 in August but its September when we begin meteorological fall, that avg high temp declines by nearly 10° from 83° on Sept. 1 to 72° by Sept 30th. Avg Low Temps fall from mid 60s now to Low 50s Sept. 30th. (These images are available courtesy of Accuweather)
Drought Analysis
As dry conditions continue to be very persistent these past few month, we've headed into one of the worst droughts in Indianapolis Weather History (since 1871). Even worse than the Dust Bowl years of the 1930s. These abnormally dry conditions have prompted 92% of the state to issue burn bans and some areas have put out mandatory water bans to keep the water supply up. It will take months, maybe years to recover from a drought this extreme.
Check this out:
In 2010, during the Thanksgiving Holiday, portions of Southern Indiana received up to 6" of rainfall in about a 2-day period. The real kicker here is river flooding did not occur. This is after having a prolonged sretch of dry weather.
At this point the only way to recover from a drought with such severity right now is to receive regular weekly rainfall amounts over an inch for maybe 2 months straight. One 3" rainfall day here and there will NOT alleviate our problems. We need something continuous and consistent. Something that gets deep down into the soils. We need a system thats widespread. Remnants from a tropical storm would be our best bet. Right now, there's nothing to be foreseen. It will only continue to get worse for more weeks to come.
Many missed out on their own 4th of July celebrations this year as fireworks were banned for much of the state. After the holiday, Mayor Greg Ballard issued an order to ban personal fireworks until December 31st in Marion County. If we go the winter with little precipitation/snowfall this ban might be extended and its possible this could cancel plans for next summers celebration. To keep this in mind, only time will tell what happens next.
These drought conditions have sparked up numerous grass fires these past 2 months. Either from the weather or from stupidity. Burn bans are issued for a reason. Failure to comply can lead to fines or jail time but importantly, lead to serious injury or dealth. Do NOT throw cigarette buds out your car windows or flick them out on the ground. Also, in the near future, autumn will be rolling around and many will want to have campfires. I hate to tell you this but burn bans prohibits bonfires and campfires. DO NOT have them. Please be smart and watch those BBQ grills. Make Safety your #1 Priority. Its dangerous out there.
The following is a breakdown for last week vs this weeks drought conditions And also the latest Drought Map issued from CPC (Thursday). This information is Current until CPC releases their latest weekly analysis later this week on Thursday Morning.
| This Week |
Last Week |
Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abnormally Dry |
100% | 100% | UNCHANGED |
| Moderate Drought |
99.04% | 89.02% | +10.38% |
| Severe Drought |
80.15% | 68.84% | +11.31% |
| Extreme Drought |
29.77% | 23.46% | 6.31% |
| Except. Drought |
0.40% | 0.00% | +0.40% |
Rainfall Deficit Around the State
| Location | Year to Date Precipitation (through July 15) | Departure from Average | Precip since June 1 | Departure from Average |
| Indianapolis | 15.15 | - 8.89 | 0.09 | -6.55 |
| Evansville | 13.00 | -13.00 | 1.62 | -4.14 |
| Lafayette | 11.57** | - 8.63 | 0.82 | -5.36 |
| Muncie | 15.11 | - 7.30 | 2.87 | -3.97 |
| Terre Haute | 12.91** | -12.24 | 0.61 | -6.10 |
| Bloomington | 12.84** | -14.52 | 1.09 | -6.38 |
| Shelbyville | 13.10 | -11.34 | 0.05 | -6.61 |
| Ft. Wayne | 11.05 | -10.00 | 0.70 | -5.55 |
| South Bend | 14.95 | - 4.43 | 3.65 | -2.01 |
| Indy - Eagle Creek | 13.39 | -10.08 | 0.25 | -6.41 |
Strange Weekend Weather
Well, I wouldn't call it strange, its just space weather. A geomagnetic storm brung stunning aurora's around the world, including the U.S. What is a geomagnetic storm? Here's an excerpt from Wikipedia.
A geomagnetic storm is a temporary disturbance of the Earth's magnetosphere caused by a disturbance in the interplanetary medium. A geomagnetic storm is a major component of space weather and provides the input for many other components of space weather. A geomagnetic storm is caused by a solar wind shock wave and/or cloud of magnetic field which interacts with the Earth's magnetic field. The increase in the solar wind pressure initially compresses the magnetosphere and the solar wind's magnetic field will interact with the Earth’s magnetic field and transfer an increased amount of energy into the magnetosphere. Both interactions cause an increase in movement of plasma through the magnetosphere (driven by increased electric fields inside the magnetosphere) and an increase in electric current in the magnetosphere and ionosphere. During the main phase of a geomagnetic storm, electric current in the magnetosphere create magnetic force which pushes out the boundary between the magnetosphere and the solar wind. The disturbance in the interplanetary medium which drives the geomagnetic storm may be due to a solar coronal mass ejection (CME) or a high speed stream (co-rotating interaction region or CIR) [1] of the solar wind originating from a region of weak magnetic field on the Sun’s surface. The frequency of geomagnetic storms increases and decreases with the sunspot cycle. CME driven storms are more common during the maximum of the solar cycle and CIR driven storms are more common during the minimum of the solar cycle.Many states around the nation got a good view of the Northern Lights including much of the midwest. Our view in Indiana was obscured due to cloud cover hanging down above.
Chris Rozema captured this spectacular beautiful view in Southern Mescosta County in Michigan. To view more pics click HERE!
What's Ahead
As briefly discussed temperatures will continue to be hot and above average for the next 6-10, 8-14 Days rather, with little precipitation.
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The hot summers of 1934, 1936, and 1988 have all been followed by a "cold but less snowy" winter. In my blog last week I discussed a prediction of positive phases in the North Atlantic Oscillation that could bring us a mild fall which could also help prevent a early jumpstart to winter. If this holds out to be true then we could be looking at low snowfall numbers for the upcoming snowfall season atleast for November and December. We don't hit the peak of winter until January so its fairly common for Indy to pick up low amounts of winter precipitation until after the New Years. The avg low doesn't hit freezing until November 23 around Thanksgiving but the avg high bottoms out at 35° from January 5th-19th. The avg daily temperature (derived from the high and low temperature) dips to 32° beginning December 13th and lowers to 28° by New Years Day. By the end of January the avg high, low, and daily avg temp begins to rise at the end of the month. I am however, speaking prematurely. We have several more months to get through first.
Here's My 10 Day Detailed Outlook and Updated Temperature/Precipitation Data
Tonight-Clear Skies. Uncomfortable. Low 75.
Tuesday-Sunny. Near Record Heat. High 100. Record High: 100 (1877)
Heat Advisory in effect from 12PM expiring at 8PM.
Sunrise-6:31AM | Sunset-9:10PM | Duration of Day-14 HR 39 MIN 9 SECS | Daylight Lost-1 MIN 25 SECS
Tuesday PM-Partly Cloudy. Mild. Low 77.
Wednesday-Partly Sunny. Isolated T'Storms. High 99. Record High: 100 (1954)
Sunrise-6:32AM | Sunset-9:10PM | Duration of Day-14 HR 37 MIN 41 SECS | Daylight Lost-1 MIN 27 SECS
Wednesday PM-Mostly Cloudy. Chance of Isolated T'Storms. Low 74
Thursday-Partly Cloudy. Isolated T'Storms. High 93.
Sunrise-6:33AM | Sunset-9:09PM | Duration of Day-14 HR 36 MIN 11 SECS | Daylight Lost-1 MIN 30 SECS
Thursday PM-Partly Cloudy. Chance of T'Storms. Low 71.
Friday-Mixed Sun & Clouds. Chance of T'Storms. High 93.
Sunrise-6:33AM | Sunset-9:08PM | Duration of Day-14 HR 34 MIN 38 SECS | Daylight Lost-1 MIN 32 SECS
Friday PM-Partly Cloudy. Low 71.
Saturday-Sunny & Hot. High 96.
Sunrise-6:34AM | Sunset-9:07PM | Duration of Day-14 HR 33 MIN 3 SECS | Daylight Lost-1 MIN 35 SECS
Saturday PM-Partly Cloudy. Low 73.
Sunday-Sunny & Hot. High 100.
Sunrise-6:35AM | Sunset-9:07PM | Duration of Day-14 HR 31 MIN 25 SECS | Daylight Lost-1 MIN 37 SECS
Sunday PM-Partly Cloudy. Warm. Low 76.
Monday-Partly Sunny & Hot. High 99.
Sunrise-6:36AM | Sunset-9:06PM | Duration of Day-14 HR 29 MIN 45 SECS | Daylight Lost-1 MIN 39 SECS
Monday PM-Partly Cloudy. Low 75.
Tuesday-Mixed Sun & Clouds. Chance of T'Storms. High 95.
Sunrise-6:37AM | Sunset-9:05PM | Duration of Day-14 HR 28 MIN 3 SECS | Daylight Lost-1 MIN 42 SECS
Tuesday PM-Partly Cloudy. Chance of T'Storms. Low 73.
Wednesday-Mixed Sun & Clouds. High 96.
Sunrise-6:38AM | Sunset-9:04PM | Duration of Day-14 HR 26 MIN 18 SECS | Daylight Lost-1 MIN 44 SECS
Wednesday PM-Partly Cloudy. Low 72.
Thursday-Sunny & Hot. High 98.
Sunrise-6:39AM | Sunset-9:03PM | Duration of Day-14 HR 24 MIN 32 SECS | Daylight Lost-1 MIN 46 SECS
Thursday PM-Clear. Low 73.
July 2012 Temperature Data(July 1-15th)
Actual Avg High---96.7°. This is 11.7° above the normal 85°.
Actutal Avg Low---73.3°. This is 7.3° above the normal 66°.
Actual Avg Temp--85°. This is 9.5° above the normal 76°.
July 2012 Precipiation Data**
Precip Since July 1-----Trace. This is -2.54" from normal.
Precip Since June 1----0.09". This is -6.70" from normal.
Precip Since May 1----2.79". This is -9.05" from normal.
Precip Since Jan 1---15.15". This is -9.04" from normal.
**-The information in this section is current as of 4PM on July 16th.
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