October 2012 Central Indiana Climate Summary

 Central Indiana
October 2012
Climate Summary
30th Coolest on record at Indianapolis
31st Wettest on record at Indianapolis
 
Temperatures
October started off near average early in the month, but the month quickly turned cold and remained that way most of the time. Much of the period from October 6-10 saw temperatures of 10 to 20 degrees below average. Many locations saw temperatures at freezing or below on October 8.
Much of the remainder of the month continued to see below average temperatures. The exception was the period from the 22nd through the 25th, where readings ended up 10 to 20 degrees above average. Most locations saw their warmest temperatures for the month during that period, with highest readings in the upper 70s to around 80.
The remnants of Hurricane Sandy brought cold air from Canada down into the area for the end of the month. These cold temperatures allowed a little sleet or snow to fall at some locations in central Indiana on the 30th. Halloween was cold with highs temperatures only in the 40s at most locations.
Site
October 2012     Avg Temp
October 2012 Difference from Normal
Highest
Temperature
Lowest Temperature
Indianapolis
52.7
-2.3
78 on 24
31 on 8
Lafayette
50.6
-3.7
78 on 4
27 on 8
Muncie
51.9
-1.9
78 on 24
28 on 8
Terre Haute
53.8
-0.4
80 on 4
29 on 8
Bloomington
52.6
-2.0
79 on 24
29 on 11
Shelbyville
53.4
-0.8
79 on 24
29 on 8
Indy – Eagle Crk.*
51.5
-3.3
78 on 24
31 on 8
 
At Indianapolis, there were 10 days with above normal average temperatures, 20 days with below normal average temperatures and 1 day with average temperatures.
*October 5 temperature data missing at Indy-Eagle Creek.
 
October 2012 was the 30th coolest in the Indianapolis area since 1871.
 
 
Precipitation

October was a rather wet month for much of Indiana. Monthly precipitation totals ranged from 2 to nearly 8 inches with many areas receiving between 3 and 6 inches. The greatest rainfall totals were confined to central and northern Indiana north of Interstate 70 and south of U.S. Highway 30. South central and southeast Indiana near the Ohio River were the driest areas.
There were two widespread rainfall events during October. Much of the state received one-half to 3 inches of rain in early October. Prior to the passage of a strong cold front, significant rain occurred on the 2nd-3rd and the 5th.   The second event occurred from the 17th-23rd.   Rainfall of one-half to 4 inches occurred from significant precipitation on the 17th-20th and the 22nd-23rd.   Less significant rains occurred on the 14th, 26th and 30th. The longest dry spell during the month was an 8-day period from the 6th-13th.
On the 30th Hurricane Sandy brought the season’s first wintry precipitation. Snow accumulated to one-tenth of an inch in portions of northeast and eastern Indiana. Snow flurries and trace amounts of sleet fell in portions of central Indiana during the day of the 30th.
Remaining drought conditions in northern and southern Indiana showed a slight improvement by the end of October. Less than 10% of Indiana remained in moderate drought according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. At the end of the month, stream flow was at or above seasonal levels in all of central and southern Indiana. Local area reservoirs were near or at capacity.
 
Site
October 2012 Precipitation
October 2012 Difference from Normal
Wettest Day
Longest Dry Stretch
Indianapolis
3.87
 +0.75
1.03 on 5
 4 days 6-9
Lafayette
5.56
 +2.67
1.53 on 23
 3 days 6-8 and     27-29
Muncie
5.09
 +2.17
1.18 on 5
 4 days 6-9
Terre Haute
2.89
 -0.68
0.78 on 5
 5 days 27-31
Bloomington
3.79
 +0.26
1.52 on 5
 4 days 6-9
Shelbyville
2.41
 -0.70
0.73 on 5
 3 days 6-8, 11-13, 27-29
Indy – Eagle Crk.
4.58
 +1.47
1.30 on 5
 4 days 6-9
                           
October 2012 was the 31st wettest in the Indianapolis area since weather records began in 1871.
 
Severe Weather
 
It was a relatively benign month for thunderstorms across central Indiana. Strong thunderstorms moved across the Hoosier state during the afternoon and evening of the 14th in association with a strong cold front, producing wind gusts near 50 to 55 mph along with brief heavy rainfall. A few stronger thunderstorms moved across far northern sections of central Indiana during the early morning of the 23rd as an upper level disturbance passed through the region.
 
For information on severe weather in other areas during October, visit the Storm Prediction Center “Severe Weather Event Summaries” website at http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/online/.
 
Miscellaneous
 
The maximum wind gust at Indianapolis International Airport was 56 mph out of the west-southwest on the evening of the 14th associated with thunderstorms in the vicinity of the airport. Fog or haze was reported at Indianapolis on 14 days during the month. Thunder was reported on 3 days during October.
 
November 2012 Outlook
 
The official outlook for November 2012 from the Climate Prediction Center indicates an equal chance of above, near or below normal temperatures for central Indiana.  At Indianapolis, the average temperature for the month is 43.6 degrees. The outlook also calls for an equal chance of above, near or below normal precipitation. The average precipitation for November at Indianapolis is 3.70”, with 0.7” of snowfall.
  
 
Data prepared by the Indianapolis Forecast Office.


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