| LOCATION | YEAR TO DATE PRECIP (thru April 23rd) |
DEPARTURE FROM NORMAL |
PRECIP SINCE MARCH 1 |
DEPARTURE FROM NORMAL |
MONTH TO DATE PRECIP |
DEPARTURE FROM NORMAL |
| BLOOMINGTON | 15.20 | +1.55 | 7.19 | -0.39 | 4.95" | +1.25 |
| EVANSVILLE | 17.37 | +3.46 | 7.84 | +0.20 | 3.76 | +0.36 |
| FT. WAYNE | 14.27 | +4.39 | 8.98 | +3.40 | 6.64 | +3.77 |
| INDIANAPOLIS | 17.97 | +6.44 | 10.19 | +3.64 | 8.23 | +5.24 |
| INDPLS- EAGLE CREEK |
14.37 | +3.86 | 7.43 | +1.26 | 5.97 | +3.10 |
| LAFAYETTE | 15.23 | +6.17 | 9.28 | +3.84 | 8.03 | +5.26 |
| MUNCIE | 12.28 | +1.85 | 6.61 | +0.72 | 5.38 | +2.44 |
| SHELBYVILLE | 9.49 | -1.92 | 4.29 | -2.37 | 3.03 | -0.20 |
| SOUTH BEND | 13.91 | +4.70 | 6.42 | +1.45 | 5.16 | +2.61 |
| TERRE HAUTE | 16.19 | +5.71 | 8.54 | +2.35 | 7.01 | +4.19 |
The rainy pattern that has been persistent this month has caused record flooding for East Fork White River, Eel River, Muscatutuck River, Sugar Creek, Tippecanoe River, Wabash and White Rivers. Therefore, flood warnings continue to remain in effect for the following counties:
Blackford, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Fountain, Grant, Greene, Huntington, Jackson, Lawrence, Marion, Miami, Morgan, Montgomery, Owen, Parke, Tippecanoe, Wabash, Warren, White, and Vermillion.
Warnings will continue to remain in effect until further notice. Some counties are being dropped from the warning list one by one. A good chunk of the Warnings are in the Western half of the state.
The NWS Indianapolis, IN has a table summary of the record flooding this month. Click here for the image or copy and paste the following image url address:
BELOW NORMAL WEATHER PATTERN THIS SPRING CONTINUES
Today marked the 13th day this month and 39th day this Spring season with a average daily temperature at a below normal value. 54% of April's days and 71% of the days since March 1st have been below normal. The general theme for March was 30s, 40s, and very little 50s & 60s. This months its primarily 50s and 60s with some 40s and 70s. We did have 9 days this month with temps 70+. The first 70 occurred on the 6th and the first 80 came in on the 9th. There is a 58° spread this month between the lowest morning low (24°) on April 2nd and highest afternoon high temperature of 82° on April 10th.
So far this month we've had 3 days with lows in the 20s, 9 in the 30s, 5 in the 40s, and 5 in the 50s.
So far this month we've had 6 days with highs in the 40s, 4 in the 50s, 4 in the 60s, 7 in the 70s, and 2 days in the 80s.
The highest low temperature this month is 58° on the 10th.
The lowest high temperature this month is 45° on the 2nd.
Our unofficial date for our last freeze this year is April 20th. This is subject to change. The forecasted low for tonight is 35.
A record 2.08" of rain fell on April 16th and a record 2.29" fell on April 18th. Two wettest days of the month.
Trace amounts of snow was recorded on the 19th and 24th.
WEATHER PATTERN TO DRY UP AND TEMPS TO GO UP AGAIN
As the cold front continues to push off to the East Coast and high pressure works its way in this clears up the skies and eliminates rain chances for at least the next 48 hours. Temperatures could slip back to the mid 30s Thursday Morning but afternoon highs will get back to the 50s. Another dry day for Friday with temperatures making a run into the lower 60s. A weak disturbance in the atmosphere will bring a 20% threat for rain showers on Friday Night into Saturday morning. Highs will continue to be on the incline for the next 5 days perhaps reaching mid 70s by Tuesday next week (last day of April). More rain chances will move in as another cold shot comes in early May.
MOON 100% FULL THURSDAY NIGHT/FRIDAY MORNING
The April moon will be 100% full on April 25th. This moon is called the Full Pink Moon which deals with spring flowers; herb moss pink (wild ground phlox). Other names given to this moon are Flower Moon, Fish Moon, Sprouting Grass Moon, Planters Moon, and Egg Moon.
The April Moon typically marks the time for most cities last frost/freeze. In Indianapolis, the average date for our last freeze is April 17th. Over the past 15 years, our last freeze has primarily occurred mid to late April. Here's a 15 year history:1998: March 24th-27°
1999: March 28th-31°
2000: April 12th-29°
2001: April 18th-26°
2002: May 19th-32°
2003: April 23rd-29°
2004: April 14th-30°
2005: May 3rd-29°
2006: April 9th-32°
2007: April 13th-31°
2008-2012 last freeze dates found in image to the left.
**As you can see we had 2 last freezes as early as late March but as late as May 19th (over these past 15 years)**
The unofficial last freeze date of 2013 is April 20th (30°).
UPCOMING...
I talked about the temperatures warming up. Really don't need to go more into much detail on that. I'm more concerned on the closed upper low that could cause for some more flooding concerns later next week. Here's a look at April 24th's 06z morning GFS run.
This is certainly a scary image. Some Indiana Rivers have already hit record water levels and more rainfall will only continue to aggravate these flooded areas. Its too early to talk numbers and this system may not verify but certainly cannot go unnoticed. After all this is said and done, we could end up with trace amounts of rain or over an inch of rain. I simply cannot say what will happen but it appears something might be there, even if its just a cloudy day, who knows? Take a look at this, Accuweather has released out this graphic today that depicts the pattern mid next week at the start of May.
Warming temps will be brief, another concern for early May will be possibly the return of a blocking pattern.
I've taken a look at weather indicators NAO & AO and both appear to be negative towards mid month. This would be an indication that temperatures will be below normal. What is considered to be below normal? The average high goes from 68° on May 1st to 72° on May 15th. The bulk of the high temperatures during the period of May 1st-15th will likely be below 68°. I'm not saying all of the days will be below 68°, I'm actually counting on a few 70s especially as we are getting farther into the spring season but right now I wouldn't count on any 80s for the first half of the month. I will continue to monitor this pattern and update as this month nears it ends.
AREA FARMERS ARE IN THE HOT SEAT
Last month, unseasonably cold temperatures and above normal snowfall left Indiana farmers unable to plant crops. With the record rainfall over the past week, this has left Indiana with unusually high soil moisture content. Aprils rainfall is 275% the normal. This continues to spell bad news for Indiana farmers. There is some relief over the next 5 days but with uncertainty going into the next storm system and perhaps another chill for the first week of May, this will only continue to make things difficult and this will likely drive the food prices up over the coming summer. According to Agricultural Weather Expert Dale Mohler, "In typical conditions on soil that is well-drained, most farmers can get into the fields and plant four of five days after a heavy rain. However, the lower temperatures that have been occurring this spring are resulting in slower evaporation rates. By the time the soil is about ready to be worked, the next rainstorm was overspreading the area."
According to the USDA only 1% of the corn in Indiana has been planted, this is down 42% from last year and off the average of 16%. I will note though, farmers in 2009 planted only 20% of the crop by May 16th because of wet conditions, yet their harvest was 9% above trend. From April 1st-May 15th, 2009, Indianapolis received 11.73" of rain, which was 5.31" above normal or 182% the normal rainfall.
CPC has released its outlook for the month of May, they are calling for an Equal Chance of Above, Below, or Near Normal Temperatures and Below Normal Rainfall.
MY TAKE:
Weeks 1-2: Temperatures will be near or below normal while precipitation will be near or above normal.
Weeks 3-4: There will be an equal chance of above, below, or near normal temperatures & precipitation.
Overall my predictions are; Near or slightly below normal temperatures & an equal chance of above, below, or near normal precipitation.
The average temperature for May is 62.7° and the average precipitation amount is 5.05".
A CHANGE COMING TO THE POLLEN IN THE AIR
Tree pollen may have peaked this month and may soon decline next month. Since trees have leafed now, this leaves trees with less (tree) pollen to release. With all the rain and cooler temps over the past week this has led to lower pollen count numbers. However, pollen counts will continue to be high on warm (and windy) days throughout the summer. Tree pollen is soon coming to an end. We'll now shift our focus to Grass Pollen (from May-July). The summer season is called "Hayfever" season. Budding flowers and plants become the concern here. Though it looks beautiful and attractive, plants generate pollen in order to reproduce. These allergens trigger Hayfever. Of 1200 plant species a small batch actually triggers those grass allergies; Bermuda grass, Johnson grass, Kentucky bluegrass, Orchard grass, Sweet vernal grass, and Timothy grass.
Few tips; Wash your linen regularly, shower everyday, take the necessary allergy medication, have someone else cut your grass or wear a mask, don't dry clothes outdoors, and if you can, stay indoors from about 5am-10am. This is when pollen counts are at its highest in the day.
From the end of July to September its ragweed season. Once we get our first freeze that usually puts an end to the pollen and also decreases mold count. Indianapolis is ranked 59 out of the top 100 worst cities for allergies. The Indianapolis Star wrote an article on allergies early this month. You can read the article by clicking on the articles title, Spring's arrival has dark side for those who suffer from allergies
Recent rainfall had levels low Wednesday but with the rising temperatures over the next few days & drier weather conditions, the pollen index will go back into the high range.
TODAY
Yesterday, we picked up 0.91" and the high reached 66 but a cold front dropped afternoon temperatures into the mid to upper 40s. Todays high of 56° actually occurred at midnight, we dropped down to a morning low of 37° shortly after 9AM. We picked up an additional 0.77" this morning which puts a 2 day storm total at 1.68". I talked about it earlier in the blog, the months rain total is up 8.23" which is 275% of the normal precipitation amount to date. There was trace amounts of snow flurries in the state this morning but none actually recorded at the National Weather Service office at Indianapolis International Airport.
THURSDAY'S AVG HIGH: 67° | THURSDAY'S AVG LOW: 46°| SUNRISE: 6:53AM | SUNSET: 8:34PM
TONIGHT: Partly Cloudy & Cool. Patchy Frost Possible especially in some Eastern Communities. Low 36.
| APR. 25 | APR. 26 | APR. 27 | APR. 28 | APR. 29 | APR. 30 | MAY 1 | MAY 2 |
| THURSDAY | FRIDAY | SATURDAY | SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY |
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 |
|
|
 |
 |
| AM SPRINKLES? |
PARTLY SUNNY |
PARTLY SUNNY |
SCT'D SHOWERS |
PARTLY SUNNY |
PARTLY SUNNY |
T'STORM POSSIBLE |
SHOWERS POSSIBLE |
| DRY | DRY | WARMER | SOME DRY HRS |
MILD | DRY | WET DAY |
FALLING TEMPS |
| 55 | 62 | 64 | 64 | 70 | 73 | 69 | 40s |
| 37 | 46 | 50 | 52 | 54 | 60 | 56↓ | 38 |
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