The last time it was this warm around here on March 17, Grover Cleveland was President.
Today’s Indianapolis record of 76 goes back to 1894, as in 118 years ago. By the way, Cleveland was the leader of the pro-business “Bourbon Democrats,” but he might be pro-green-beer on a day such as this.
The annual Shamrock Run (And Walk) looks promising, as does “ShamRocking The Circle” from 10am-3pm. Just a slight chance of showers and storms. (Will they clean up post-party by “ShamWOW-ing The Circle?”)
Shower and storm chances will increase this evening into Sunday. High pressure ridging takes over again in the upper atmosphere and keeps Monday-Wednesday quiet before the big storm show we are likely to see somewhere in the Thursday-Friday time frame. Before it gets here, it will stir up nasty weather in Texas and the Southern Plains Sunday and Monday.
Today will be the FOURTH day of consecutive record highs in some Indiana cities. Indy was spared just a bit Friday when the high “only” reached 77. Oh, by the way: that’s 25 degrees above average.
POTEET RADIO NETWORKS HIGHS TODAY:
80 South Bend & Lafayette
77 Marion & Muncie
78 Anderson
79 Indianapolis & Evansville
All the “average” and “normal” talk this week prompted Facebook Friend Mike Hartman to ask: “Technical question……when I hear “the normal high for this date is”.. what means normal, average the last 10 years, since records kept, or what?”
The simplest answer is that “average” hi/low combos come from a 30 year rolling average. The Weather Service recalculates “normals” at the end of each decade, using the preceding 30 years’ data as input. So right now you’re getting the best mix of the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.
We could very well see temperatures above that average for the rest of the month. Just not quite so far above it. Highs starting Friday into the weekend will probably land in the 60s.
How hot is it? Indy is getting high temps typical of late May and early June, and similar to March weather in Tampa, Florida. If mild weather persists after Thursday, this may become the warmest March of record. Currently March 1910 is the warmest March for the Indianapolis area. To quote the Weather Bureau, circa March 1910, “Never since the Weather Bureau was established has there been such an early opening of spring.” Incidentally, weather records at Indianapolis began in 1871.
Friday Highs:
81 Lafayette (record)
79 South Bend (record)
78 Ft. Wayne (record)
78 Terre Haute
77 Indianapolis
76 Muncie
75 Bloomington
Friday was the THIRD consecutive day of record highs for Ft. Wayne, Lafayette and South Bend. The streak stopped for Indy but it will return this weekend.
The injuries from a Thursday night lightning strike in southern Indiana remind us that every thunderstorm can be severe, not just the ones with “severe” attached to them. Tornadoes hog the spotlight because of their violent, often photogenic fury, but lightning kills more people yearly. At any average (there’s that word again) moment on the earth there are 2,000 active thunderstorms. On average there’s about one person a day struck by lightning. Most survive, but in the United States 100 people lose their life to lightning in a typical year.
Speaking of storms, Severe Weather Preparedness Week starts tomorrow. The National Weather Service plans a week’s worth of education, and a test of amateur radio communications systems. In conjunction with the Indiana State Police, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, the Indiana Department of Education, the Indiana Broadcasters Association, the American Red Cross, and Amateur Radio Operators will conduct a statewide test of communication systems on Wednesday. If you have kids, they will practice taking shelter in their school in the 10am hour Wednesday. The Drill will be conducted again during the 7pm hour Wednesday.
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WIKI-POTEETIA:
Friday’s high gave Lafayette its third Consecutive 80 degree day in March. That hasn’t happened since 1986.
INDY ALMANAC:
The average high today is 52 and the average low is 33. Record high (which I think we’ll break) is 76. Record low is 2. The sunrise time is 7:53 and the sun sets at 7:55.
DETAILED INDIANAPOLIS FORECAST:
Today: Mostly to partly sunny with a chance of scattered afternoon showers and storms. High 79.
Tonight: Better chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms. Low 60.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with scattered showers and storms. High 79.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 59.
Monday: Mostly sunny. High 80.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 60.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny. High 80.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Low 61.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny. High 79.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy. Low 58..
Thursday: Showers and storms. High 72.
Thursday Night: Showers and storms. Low 72.
Friday: Chance of showers and storms. High 63.
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