After much above normal annual precipitation in 2008 and 2009, 2010 was the 31st driest on record at Indianapolis and the driest since 1999. This included an abnormal and historic dry period across central Indiana stretching from late July into November. Many locations across the region received less than three inches of rainfall during this period. The pattern reversed with the 3rd snowiest December on record to finish the year!
Above normal temperatures were experienced through the spring and summer, and helped to make the average temperatures through the end of November the 4th warmest on record at Indianapolis. The temperature reached 80 degrees on 131 days in Indianapolis, matching 2007 for the most 80 degree days in a calendar year on record. Despite a much colder than average December, 2010 will go down as tied for the 12th warmest on record with an average temperature of 54.7 degrees. Records began for Indianapolis in 1871.
Central Indiana saw a little bit of everything in 2010, from record heat, to an expansive drought, to one of the wettest Junes on record. There was even a rare earthquake in Howard County on December 30th to cap an interesting weather year in the Hoosier state.
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