Putnam in 'abnormally dry' category

Putnam County and most of Indiana are stuck in a rut ... a dry rut.

Abnormally dry conditions persist in Putnam County, as well as much of the state northeast of a line running essentially from Terre Haute to Madison, the USDA's Drought Monitor indicates.

Since Sept. 1, the National Weather Service noted, only 1.89 inches of rain has been reported in central Indiana, leaving the area 3.47 inches below normal for the period.

And it's been even drier lately. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain reportedly fell anywhere in Indiana between Oct. 15 and Oct. 21, putting most of the state in the "abnormally dry category," the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a water and climate update release this week.

Usually, 3.12 inches of rain falls in central Indiana during both September and October. November normally sees 3.7 inches of precipitation.

While central Indiana endured more than 21 inches of rainfall over June and July, only 3.44 inches has fallen in the area since Aug. 1.

However, central Indiana remains a little more than three inches of rain above average for the year.

Nonetheless, Indiana's dryness conditions are similar to those of October 2014, the USDA said.

Conditions have been so dry in Benton, Fountain and Warren counties that officials have banned outside fires until further notice.

Meanwhile, it might not get better soon.

The National Weather Service has reported El Niņo conditions in the Pacific Ocean, meaning less precipitation can be expected for central Indiana and the Midwest this winter. Temperatures are expected to be slightly warmer and the air drier from November through March.

The weather condition is a natural warming of Pacific water that affects weather patterns around the world.

AccuWeather meteorologist Brett Anderson has expressed confidence that this El Niņo "will be one of the strongest El Niņos over the past 50 years."

Typical El Niņo effects in the Indianapolis area produce a drier-than-normal pattern. An El Niņo doesn't mean it won't snow in central Indiana but that Hoosiers generally can expect less precipitation throughout the winter months.

This year's forecast is shaping up similar to two previous El Niņo events, the winters of 1997 and 1982. In 1982 Indianapolis received a total 7.1 inches of snow, while in 1997 the city saw 10.4 inches. The average is 25 to 26 inches.

Winter temperatures in 1982 and 1997 also were above average. The average January temperature is 28.1 degrees. In 1997, however, the January average was 36.6, and in 1982 it was 30.5.