National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

July 2011 went down in history at Indianapolis as the hottest month since July 1936 and the
2nd hottest month since weather records began in 1871.   During the summer of 1936, the
Midwest and much of the nation was in the middle of the epic Dust Bowl.

An upper air ridge has prevailed over the central United States this summer as a result of severe
to exceptional drought conditions in much of New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma.  Not only has
this ridge contributed to the heat wave, but it has also deflected storms from much of central
Indiana during July.

As a result, July 2011 was the driest July ever at Indianapolis.  The airport received only 0.47 inches
of rain.  This was slightly more than 4 inches below the monthly normal rainfall for July.  

Hottest Months on Record
 Rank  Value   Month/Year
  1    82.8    July 1936
  2    82.0    July 2011 
  3    81.9    July 1901
  4    81.6    July 1934
  5    81.1    July 1921
  6    80.7    July 1916
  7    80.5    Aug. 1936 

Driest Julys on Record
 Rank  Value   Year
  1    0.47    2011 
  2    0.49    1914
  3    0.55    1997
  4    0.67    1936
  5    0.82    1881
  6    0.83    1901, 1893
  8    0.90    1940, 1930
 10    0.97    1919, 1890