June 2009 Climate Summary

Central Indiana June 2009 Climate Summary
June 2009 was another wet month for Central Indiana. Most of the rain came during the first part of the month as the area remained under the influence of a strong upper level low pressure. The pattern turned sharply drier by the end of the month. Temperatures for the month averaged above normal, with stretches of both warm and cool weather alternating through the month. The following is a summary of everything that was weather in Central Indiana during June 2009.
 
Temperatures
June 2009 featured the first visit of true summer heat in Central Indiana. The month actually began with temperatures well below normal on the 3rd and 4th, and then temperatures continued to average near normal for much of the month through the 18th. Then a change in the pattern brought some hot weather to the area. The first 90 degree temperatures of the year in most locations were observed on the 19th, and then on the 23rd through 27th temperatures ranged from the upper 80s to mid 90s with high humidity. Many locations had at least 4 days in a row of 90 or better. The temperatures in the 90s were somewhat unusual in that they followed closely on the heels of a very wet stretch of weather. Typically in Central Indiana when the pattern has been wet, it will be difficult for temperatures to exceed 90 degrees. That was not the case this year. Temperatures at all locations averaged from 1 to 2 degrees above normal. No temperature records this month were set at Indianapolis.
 
Site
June 2009 Avg Temp
June 2009 Difference from normal
Highest
Temperature
Lowest Temperature
Indianapolis
73.4
+1.7
93 on 6/24
47 on 6/5
Lafayette
72.2
+1.7
94 on 6/24
46 on 6/5
Muncie
71.7
+1.1
93 on 6/23-24
43 on 6/5
Terre Haute
73.7
+1.4
93 on 6/25
48 on 6/5
Bloomington
72.2
+0.9
91 on 6/24
46 on 6/5
Shelbyville
72.7
+1.0
92 on 6/24-25
44 on 6/5
Indy – Eagle Crk.
73.1
+1.4
92 on 6/24-25
50 on 6/4-5
 
At Indianapolis, there were 8 days with below normal temperatures, 19 days with above normal temperatures, and 3 days with exactly normal temperatures.
 
June 2009 ranked as the 44th warmest in the Indianapolis area since 1871.
 
Precipitation
 
June 2009 finished as yet another wet month across central Indiana. However, most of the rain was found during the first portion of the month, in a continuation of the very wet pattern found across the area during May. As the weather pattern shifted hotter after the 18th, the rainfall began to dry up. At Indianapolis, the final 12 days of the month saw 0.79 inches of rainfall as compared to 5.81 inches during the first 18 days of the month. As wet as this month was, it still pales in comparison to June of last year when rainfall of 7 to 13 inches was widespread across Central Indiana for the month, with even some isolated spots experiencing more than 15 inches of rain during the month, which lead to historical flooding. This year was wet, but not quite as bad as last June. A very heavy rainfall came on the 11th of June in Indianapolis with several rounds of torrential downpours occurring. This dropped 2.90 inches of rainfall for the day and broke the old record of 1.41 inches which was set back in 1938. While most sites received above normal rainfall this month, Muncie was a notable exception as it checked in with nearly an inch less than normal for the month. The month finished as the 15th wettest June on record in the Indianapolis area.
 
Site
June 2009 Precipitation
June 2009 Difference from Normal
Wettest Day
Longest Dry Stretch
Indianapolis
6.60
+2.47
2.90” on 6/11
5: 6/4 to 6/8
Lafayette
5.22
+0.98
2.64” on 6/1
8: 6/23 to 6/30
Muncie
3.26
-1.02
0.84” on 6/11
10: 6/21 to 6/30
Terre Haute**
4.45
+0.36
1.20” on 6/11
5: 6/26 to 6/30
Bloomington
5.60
+1.67
1.10” on 6/22
6: 6/4 to 6/9
Shelbyville
4.21
+0.28
1.18” on 6/16
6: 6/4 to 6/9
** -Equipment Failure at Terre Haute recording site on 6/2 and 6/18 resulted in no rainfall being measured those days, so totals are likely inaccurate.
 
As an interesting note, the months of May and June have brought a combined rainfall to Indianapolis of 13.29 inches. This makes it the 10th wettest combined May and June since 1871, and just 0.25 inches less than the May and June of 2008.
 
Severe Weather

Severe weather this past June was not nearly as active as June of last year. There were no confirmed tornadoes across the area this month. Much of the severe weather observed was in the form of flash flooding. There were scattered wind damage reports on the 22nd and 26th. The most widespread events came on the 19th. Hail to nickel size, winds of 65 to 70 mph, and several funnel clouds were reported that day. There was also an early morning severe weather episode on the morning of June 18th, impacting primarily the southwestern portions of Central Indiana. This brought 65-70 mph winds and heavy rain, and caused damage to trees and homes as it passed.
 
For much more information on storm reports of severe weather, visit the Storm Prediction Center “Severe Weather Event Summaries” website at http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/online/
 
Miscellaneous
At Indianapolis:
The peak wind gust this month was 56 mph from the west on June 18th. Thunder was reported on 12 days. Fog or haze was observed on 14 days, with no dense fog observed at the airport. Sunshine for the month was 60% of the possible maximum.
 
July 2009 Outlook
The official outlook for July 2009, from the Climate Prediction Center, indicates an enhanced likelihood of temperatures below normal across Central Indiana. There is an equal chance of above, below, or near normal values of precipitation.
 
Data prepared by Logan Johnson, Climate Services Focal Point
Assistance provided by NWS Indianapolis forecast team
 


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