2nd Warmest on record at Indianapolis55th Driest on record at Indianapolis
Temperatures
The month was dominated by extended stretches of warm temperatures as a high pressure ridge remained across the southeast States. Highs warmed above 75 degrees on twelve days and into the 80s on six days during the month in Indianapolis. Record highs were set at Indianapolis on the 1st, 2nd and 6th. Cold frontal passages brought cooler air into central Indiana, but the cooler weather generally did not last more than 3 or 4 days at most before temperatures warmed back into the 70s. In the wake of a cold frontal passage on the 7th, highs fell back into the 50s on the 8th and 9th. Another cold frontal passage on the 16th was followed by four days of temperatures in the 60s. Finally, highs fell back into the 50s and lower 60s from the 25th through the 28th as cool high pressure followed on the heels of a strong low pressure and associated cold front.
Many nights during April were chilly as drier than normal conditions so far this year along with persistent high pressure producing mainly clear skies. The coldest nights followed in the wake of the cold fronts mentioned above as a cooler air overspread central Indiana. Many areas fell near or just below freezing on the 9th, 18th and 28th, with areas of frost developing. This had an impact on area residents and farmers, as the growing season commenced earlier than normal due to the warmer and drier conditions experienced since mid March.
|
Site
|
April 2010 Avg Temp
|
April 2010 Difference from normal
|
Highest
Temperature
|
Lowest Temperature
|
|
Indianapolis
|
59.6
|
+7.6
|
83 on 6 and 15
|
32 on 28
|
|
Lafayette
|
58.1
|
+8.0
|
84 on 14
|
30 on 28
|
|
Muncie
|
57.2
|
+7.2
|
83 on 6 and 15
|
31 on 18
|
|
Terre Haute
|
58.9
|
+6.3
|
83 on 14
|
33 on 9, 18 and 28
|
|
Bloomington
|
59.1
|
+6.4
|
85 on 6 and 14
|
30 on 28
|
|
Shelbyville
|
58.3
|
+6.2
|
84 on 6 and 15
|
33 on 28
|
|
Indy – Eagle Crk.
|
59.0
|
+7.0
|
83 on 6
|
34 on 28
|
At Indianapolis, there were 6 days with below normal average temperatures, 22 days with above normal average temperatures and 2 days at normal average temperatures.
April 2010 was the 2nd warmest in the Indianapolis area since 1871.
Precipitation
Monthly rainfall during April in central and southern Indiana ranged from around 1 ½ inches to nearly 6 inches. The locations that received the most rain were located south of Interstate 70. The wettest areas received nearly 150% of the normal rainfall for April, while the driest less than 50%.
Rainfall was not evenly distributed during the month. Two rain events provided nearly all the precipitation during April. The first occurred from the 5th through the 8th and second from the 23rd through the 26th. Rain of ½ to nearly 4 inches fell during these periods.
During the middle of April, little precipitation fell from the 9th through the 22nd. After two previous wet springs, Indiana farmers took full advantage of this dry weather and were on a record early corn planting progress as of the April 26 agricultural report. Because of warm, dry and windy conditions during April, fire danger was high at times. No serious wildfires occurred during April.
Very limited lowland flooding occurred in southern Indiana following the rains on the 7th. Because of the 2 week dry spell, rivers remained low following the rains near the end of April.
|
Site
|
April 2010 Precipitation
|
April 2010 Difference from Normal
|
Wettest Day
|
Longest Dry Stretch
|
|
Indianapolis
|
2.97
|
-0.64
|
0.92” on 7
|
7 days 9-15
|
|
Lafayette
|
2.49
|
-1.08
|
1.00” on 24
|
7 days 9-15
|
|
Muncie
|
1.86
|
-1.74
|
0.81” on 7
|
7 days 9-15
|
|
Terre Haute
|
4.72
|
+0.60
|
1.84” on 5
|
7 days 9-15
|
|
Bloomington
|
4.57
|
+0.28
|
1.67” on 7
|
7 days 9-15
|
|
Shelbyville
|
3.58
|
-0.36
|
1.78” on 7
|
7 days 9-15
|
|
Indy – Eagle Crk.
|
2.81
|
-0.80
|
1.00” on 7
|
7 days 9-15
|
April 2010 was the 55th driest in the Indianapolis area since 1871.
Snowfall
No snowfall occurred across central Indiana in April.
Severe Weather
The first severe weather events of the year took place in April. Isolated strong storms produced small hail in Lafayette on April 3. Thunderstorms produced severe hail during the late afternoon and evening on April 5 as a warm front lifted north across central Indiana. Hail occurred from Terre Haute east through the Indianapolis area. The largest hail occurred from Gosport in Owen County through Paragon in Morgan County where 2.50 to 3 inch hail was recorded. Additional strong to severe thunderstorms occurred on the evening of April 7 in advance of a cold front, with large hail in Clay County. Thunderstorms impacted central Indiana once again on the evening of the 24th and early morning of the 25th as low pressure moved through the area. While the thunderstorms were strong, they remained below severe levels.
For information on severe weather in other areas during April, visit the Storm Prediction Center “Severe Weather Event Summaries” website at http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/online/
Miscellaneous
At the Indianapolis International Airport, the peak wind gust this month was 45 mph from the southeast on April 24. Fog or haze was observed on 9 days. No dense fog was observed this month. Due to the drier than average conditions experienced so far this year and the quick warmup this month, red flag warnings were issued for hazardous fire weather conditions on April 2 and 15.
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