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Warmer, wetter summer experienced by central Indiana during 2018
Meteorologically, the summer of 2018 may be over but it will be remembered for being warmer and wetter than normal for many central Indiana locations.
During the summer, the official reporting station at the Indianapolis International Airport made it to 90 degrees on 27 days (now numbering 35 through Sept. 6), matching 2016 for most 90-degree days in the summer season over the last five years.
So far in 2018, the warmest temperature of the year in Indianapolis has been 95 degrees, which actually occurred just outside the meteorological summer season in late May.
After a dry start to summer in early June, a wetter pattern developed, especially in August. Much of central Indiana received between 10 and 15 inches of rainfall throughout June, July and August.
The summer of 2018 was tied for the 22nd-warmest summer on record at Indianapolis with an average temperature of 76.1 degrees. Normal summer average temperature is 73.9 degrees. Average temperatures across central Indiana for the summer generally ranged from one to three degrees above normal.
A hot finish to May rolled right on into the first several days of June, as high temperatures consistently warmed into the upper 80s most days before the 90s returned to much of central Indiana June 7-9.
The nine days of 90 degrees or more highs at Indianapolis were the most June days at or above 90 since 2012 when 12 days made it to 90 degrees or beyond.
The nine nights through the month that saw lows remain at or above 70 degrees in Indy marked the most June nights in the 70s since 1999 (when 11 were recorded). Maybe even more impressive, that ties June 1952 and 1994 for the second most June nights at or above 70 degrees since 1943.
It was a hot start to July as temperatures surged into the low and mid 90s through the first five days of the month. It was the warmest Independence Day since 2012 with many locations experiencing their hottest day of the month. Humidity levels produced peak heat indices at 105 to 110 degrees through the period. The passage of a cold front on the afternoon and evening of July 5 broke the heat wave.
However, periodic surges of heat with highs in the upper 80s to mid 90s impacted the region July 9-10 and again from July 13-20.
A warm and muggy August got started with highs in the 80s the first few days of the month before temperatures surged into the low 90s over Aug. 4-6.
Another surge of heat and humidity arrived with a warm front late on Aug. 25. Beginning Aug. 26, much of central Indiana would again experience three consecutive days of 90 degrees or more.
Much of central Indiana added six to eight more 90-degree days in August, adding to the growing total accumulating through the summer. For Indianapolis, the six additional 90-degree days in August brought the 2018 total to 30 days, the most experienced in a year since 2012.
Overall 2018 was the 78th-driest summer on record at Indianapolis with total rainfall at 11.27 inches. Normal rainfall total for summer is 11.93 inches, which made this summer in Indianapolis below normal by 0.66 inches.
Indianapolis/central Indiana was the only one of the main climate reporting stations below normal on rainfall through the summer. Most locations were one inch to 2.5 inches above normal on rainfall. Rain was evenly distributed throughout the summer, with the second half of the summer seeing wetter conditions and more frequent storms.
Meanwhile, the official outlook for the 2018 fall season (September-November) from the Climate Prediction Center indicates a greater chance of above-normal temperatures and an equal chance of above, near or below normal precipitation across central Indiana.
At Indianapolis, the average temperature for the fall season is 55.2 degrees, while, the average precipitation for the fall season is 9.94 inches and 1.1 inches of snowfall.