Indy had the 6th warmest and 24th wettest November on record, according to the Weather Service.
TEMPERATURES:
November was characterized by a very active weather pattern with storm systems and associated frontal boundaries frequently influencing the region. There were nearly four periods of temperatures significantly warmer than normal by at least 10 degrees. These were pretty well spaced out during the month. Two of these periods were about 20 degrees above normal! Near the 14th, much of the area experienced highs in the low 70s and lows in the mid 50s, and highs near the 26th managed to get back up to the 60s. While the majority of the month was abnormally warm, there were only a few notable brief periods of abnormally cool temperatures. The first of which occurred on the 10th and 11th, as much colder air was drawn into the area behind a strong low pressure system tracking north of the Great Lakes. Much of the area experienced highs only making it to the 40s and average temperatures approaching nearly 10 degrees below normal. The 17th was also nearly 10 degrees below normal due to the passage of a cold front.
Site
|
November 2011 Avg Temp
|
November 2011 Difference from Normal
|
Highest
Temperature
|
Lowest Temperature
|
Indianapolis
|
48.7
|
+5.1
|
71 on 8 and 14
|
27 on 11 and 18
|
Lafayette
|
47.9
|
+5.1
|
72 on 14
|
27 on 17, 18 and 30
|
Muncie
|
46.7
|
+4.1
|
70 on 14
|
26 on 5 and 30
|
Terre Haute
|
48.1
|
+4.8
|
72 on 14
|
23 on 30
|
Bloomington
|
48.7
|
+4.9
|
72 on 8 and 14
|
25 on 30
|
Shelbyville
|
48.6
|
+4.9
|
72 on 8 and 14
|
26 on 11
|
At Indianapolis, there were 6 days with below normal average temperatures, 22 days with above normal average temperatures and 2 days with normal average temperatures.
PRECIPITATION:
November monthly precipitation was above normal for all of Indiana except the northwestern portion. Melted precipitation ranged 2 inches to nearly 10 inches in Indiana. Much of central and southern Indiana received monthly amounts of 5 to 8 inches. The least amount of rain during November fell in northwest Indiana near Lake Michigan and the most in southwest and south central Indiana.
A large portion of November’s precipitation fell during the last week of the month. Melted precipitation totals of 2 to nearly 5 inches caused widespread lowland flooding. This was the first river flooding since June.
Site
|
November 2011 Precipitation
|
November 2011 Difference from Normal
|
Wettest Day
|
Longest Dry Stretch
|
Indianapolis
|
4.87
|
+1.17
|
0.98” on 29
|
3 days 4-6
|
Lafayette
|
5.61
|
+2.64
|
1.75” on 29
|
4 days 15-18
|
Muncie
|
6.42
|
+2.97
|
1.94” on 14
|
4 days 15-18
|
Terre Haute
|
6.12
|
+2.28
|
1.10” on 14
|
4 days 15-18
|
Bloomington
|
3.58*
|
-0.36
|
0.79” on 14
|
3 days 4-6, 11-13 and 23-25
|
Shelbyville
|
5.96
|
+2.23
|
1.02” on 29
|
3 days 23-25
|
Indy – Eagle Crk.
|
4.09
|
+0.39
|
0.80” on 29
|
3 days 4-6 and 23-25
|
* Total at Bloomington is likely too low and estimates suggest it should be between 6.00 and 7.00 inches.
Snowfall
Many locations in central Indiana saw their first snowflakes of the season during the afternoon and evening of the 10th as scattered snow showers mixed with ice pellets moved across central Indiana on the back side of a departing storm system. Some locations across central Indiana received a brief dusting of snowfall, but up to 3 inches fell in portions of northeast Indiana. A much more extensive snowfall impacted the region on the 29th as cold air was pulled south into central Indiana as a strong upper low tracked through the Ohio Valley. Locally heavy snowfall developed during the afternoon and evening across northern portions of central Indiana with many locations from Lafayette east through Kokomo and Muncie receiving 3 to 5 inches of heavy wet snow. Snowfall amounts dropped off drastically further to the south where surface temperatures remained just a bit warmer. Many areas from Interstate 70 south received around an inch with locally higher amounts of 2 to 3 inches east of Indianapolis across Henry and Shelby Counties. Once again the heaviest snow across the state was in northeast Indiana where totals approached 10 inches.
Severe Weather
Severe thunderstorms impacted central Indiana on the afternoon and evening of the 14th as low pressure tracked along a cold front moving through the Ohio Valley. There was a funnel cloud sighted near the Lafayette Mall from an intense thunderstorm. Additionally, golf ball sized hail was reported in Bicknell in Knox County and in Frankfort in Clinton County. Wind gusts up to 60 to 65 mph were recorded near Lafayette and Terre Haute with numerous trees downed. A semi trailer and large propane tank were overturned along with some minor damage to structures near Danville in Hendricks County.
For information on previous severe weather events, 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 48 mph out of the west-southwest on the 13th as scattered showers and a few thunderstorms moved through the Indianapolis metro area. Fog or haze was reported at Indianapolis on 17 days during the month. Thunder was reported on the 13th, 14th and 22nd.
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