July 2014 Climate Summary

Transcription

1 Ken Scheeringa And Matt Price Aug 8, 2014 (765) July 2014 Climate Summary Month Summary July was unseasonably cool and drier than normal. Rainfall was light in parts of east central and northeast Indiana but heavy in western counties and in the southeast. Severe weather got off to a quick start. A derecho was already in progress as the month began. On July 1 st in northern Indiana 11 tornadoes were confirmed and 2 people were killed by falling trees. Hail and wind damage occurred on six other July days. The July state average temperature was 69.5 F, more than 3 F cooler than June, and 5.1 F below normal. This ranks July 2014 as the 2 nd coolest July on record in Indiana behind only July 2009, the state record holder at 69.2 F. The day split in July 2014 had 26 days of below normal temperature, 4 days above normal, and 1 day at normal. There were 7 days when the daily temperature average was 10 F or more below normal. The highest cooperative network temperature of the month was 94 F at Evansville on July 26 th. The coldest temperature was 39 F on July 24 th in Columbia City. July state precipitation averaged 3.41 inches, or 0.70 inch below normal. This marks the 49 th driest July on record since Last year July was drier at 3.21 inches, claiming the 37 th driest slot. In the 2012 drought year, 2.53 inches was recorded, good for 19 th place. In July 2011 rainfall was 2.74 inches, ranking in 25 th place. Going back a few more years 3.17 inches was received in 2007, a tie with 1947 as 35 th driest July on record. Look far back to find the driest July on record. A meager 1.30 inch was totaled in July Regionally July 2014 precipitation was about 65% of normal in northern Indiana, 80% of normal in central, and right at normal in the south. Normal July precipitation ranges from 3.7 inches in northeast Indiana to 4.4 inches in the west central division. The highest single day precipitation amount reported in the cooperative network this month was 3.02 inches on July 14 th at Bedford 5 wnw. In the CoCoRaHS network the highest daily value was 3.55 inches that same day at Salem 0.9 nnw. Widespread precipitation fell on about 14 days this month. There were 12 days with severe weather. The most significant event was at the top of the month when 11 tornadoes and a derecho caused extensive wind damage and killed two people. Less costly disasters due to wind and large hail on 11 other days are chronicled in the narratives below.

2 July 1 st 7 th A major severe weather event was in progress in Indiana as the calendar flipped to July. Extensive storm damage in the early morning hours of July 1 st was caused by 11 confirmed Indiana tornadoes and a derecho. This was the second derecho in this storm event. Severe weather had begun on June 30 th and produced 2 previous tornadoes, for an event total of 13. Initial details about this extreme storm were described in the June report. The July story continues below. Two more severe weather days were tracked later this first week of July, although each was minor compared to the event on July 1 st. July opened with temperatures that were briefly above normal at 4 F on the warm side. A cold front was moving across the state on July 1 st that was part of a vigorous occluded low pressure center anchored near Hudson Bay. By the next day the cold front had passed east of Indiana but had stalled in West Virginia. Another pulse of cold air pushed into Indiana on July 2 nd behind a second cold front. A ridge of high pressure behind the second front set up a flow of cool air into the state on July 3 rd, lowering the state average temperature to 7 F below normal. The ridge moved overhead Indiana on Independence Day, allowing for a pleasant holiday of sunshine and temperatures 9 F below normal. The ridge drifted east of Indiana on July 5 th, promoting a warmup for the remainder of the 7 days. The state temperature rose to 3 F below normal by July 6 th. The next storm system now approached Indiana. By July 7 th the leading warm front had raced north through Indiana, positioning the state inside a narrow warm sector as the week closed. Temperatures had recovered to 1 F above normal to end the week. Overall the week was quite cool with the state temperature averaging near 3 F below normal. In the upper atmosphere low pressure parked near Hudson Bay had tapped into cool Canadian air and pipelined it south to the Great Lake states much of this week, keeping Indiana cooler than normal. Usually this first week of July Indiana daily maximum temperatures should range between 83 F and 89 F north to south. Daily minimums should vary from 63 F in far northern counties to 68 F in the southwest corner of the state. The warmest daily maximum temperature this week was 93 F at Leavenworth on July 1 st while the coolest daily minimum temperature was 45 F at West Lafayette on July 4 th. The extreme weather early in the week triggered moderate to heavy rainfall. The remainder of the week was mostly dry until the last day when the next storm moved in. On average about 0.8 inch of rain fell across northern Indiana, 0.6 inch in central, and 0.7 inch across the south. These amounts equate to near normal in northern Indiana and about 70% of normal in central and southern sections. The heaviest single day rainfall occurred near the start of the week. Two CoCoRaHS observers in Shoals reported 2.85 and 2.61 inches in their morning reports on July 2 nd. Other heavy amounts also fell in western Indiana, including a 2.80 inch reading taken by the Portage volunteer and 2.38 inches measured at St. John. In far southwest Indiana the Posey gage had caught 2.49 inches. Not much more rain fell the rest of the week and these single day maximum amounts were close to the largest weekly totals as well. Severe weather on July 1 st was extensive, caused massive damage, and primarily impacted the northern third of Indiana. Reports of wind damage in tornadoes and thunderstorms were numerous but few hail damage reports were noted. The impacts of the 11 tornadoes on July 1 st are collected here as reported in storm surveys by the National Weather Service:

3 LaPorte County Tornado Path Map Description G: EF-1 MAX WIND SPEED: 105 mph PATH WIDTH : 200 yards PATH LENGTH: 0.25 miles TIME: Approx. 12:11-12:12 am EDT LOCATION: Pinhook A BRIEF EF1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 2 NEAR THE TOWN OF PINHOOK AND LIFTED JUST EAST OF SOUTH WOZNIAK ROAD. THE TORNADO CAUSED WIDESPREAD SEVERE TREE DAMAGE AND DAMAGED MANY STRUCTURES INCLUDING A 2 STORY BARN WHICH WAS DESTROYED. LaPorte County Tornado RATING: EF-1 MAX WIND SPEED: 95 mph PATH WIDTH : 200 yards PATH LENGTH: 4.8 miles TIME: Approx. 12:24-12:28 am EDT LOCATION: 1 E Kingsford Heights to 3 ENE South Center Path Map Description AN EF1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST EAST OF KINGSFORD HEIGHTS AND TRAVELED ENE TO JUST NORTH OF US 6 BEFORE DISSIPATING AS IT CROSSED THE KANKAKEE RIVER. EXTENSIVE WIDESPREAD TREE DAMAGE ALONG THE PATH OF THE TORNADO WAS NOTED. MANY HOMES IN THE PATH OF THE TORNADO SUFFERED DAMAGE FROM FELLED TREES.

4 Starke County Tornado TING: EF-1 MAX WIND SPEED: 100 mph PATH WIDTH : 400 yards PATH LENGTH: 5 miles TIME: Approx. 12:25-12:28 am EDT LOCATION: 4 S South Center to 3 WNW Koontz Lake Path Map Description AN EF1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF N CR 300 E AND E CR 800 N. EXTENSIVE WIDESPREAD TREE DAMAGE ALONG THE PATH OF THE TORNADO WAS NOTED. SEVERAL HOMES IN THE PATH OF THE TORNADO SUSTAINED DAMAGE AS THE TORNADO MOVED EAST. A BARN WAS DESTROYED NEAR CR 700 E AND ROBBINS ROAD. MULTIPLE CENTER PIVOTS WERE FLIPPED IN CORN FIELDS. Starke/Marshall County Tornado RATING: EF-1 MAX WIND SPEED: 110 mph PATH WIDTH : 400 yards PATH LENGTH: 4.9 miles TIME: Approx. 12:29-12:33 am EDT LOCATION: 2 W of Koontz Lake to 3 ENE Koontz Lake Path Map Description A STRONG EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST EAST OF CR 850 E AND JUST NORTH OF CR 800 N IN STARKE COUNTY. AS THE TORNADO MOVED ENE IT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO HARDWOOD TREES...ESPECIALLY NORTH OF KOONTZ LAKE ALONG THE STARKE/MARSHALL COUNTY LINE WITH A 250 YARD SWATH OF INTENSE TREE DAMAGE NOTED IN A HEAVILY FORESTED AREA ALONG PINE RIDGE RD. MINOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WAS NOTED TO SEVERAL HOMES NEAR THE END OF THE TORNADO IN NORTHWEST MARSHALL COUNTY. THE TORNADO LIFTED IN A GROVE OF TREES JUST EAST OF UNION ROAD.

5 Marshall County Tornado RATING: EF-1 MAX WIND SPEED: 105 mph PATH WIDTH : 150 yards PATH LENGTH: Approx. 7 miles TIME: Approx. 12:35-12:42 am EDT LOCATION: 1 mi S of Donaldson to 1 mi N of Plymouth Path Map Description AN EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST SOUTH OF DONALDSON WHERE IT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO HARDWOOD TREES. THE TORNADO MOVED EAST AND HEAVILY DAMAGED A FARM ON SYCAMORE ROAD JUST SOUTH OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS. EXTENSIVE TREE DAMAGE CONTINUED TO THE EAST/NORTHEAST INTO THE TOWN OF PLYMOUTH TO THE LEAR CORPORATION WHERE MULTIPLE TREES WERE SNAPPED AND TOPPED. AN EMPTY SEMI TRAILER WAS FLIPPED. THE TORNADO CONTINUED NE WITH WIDESPREAD MIXED HARDWOOD/SOFTWOOD TREE DAMAGE AND MINOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE BEHAVIOR SCIENCE BUILDING ON N OAK ROAD. THE TORNADO CAUSED PARTIAL UPLIFT OF THE NW SIDE OF THE ROOF AND COLLAPSED THE INTERIOR CINDER BLOCK WALL ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION GARAGE JUST SOUTH OF US 30 BEFORE LIFTING. Marshall County Tornado RATING: EF-1 MAX WIND SPEED: 95 mph PATH WIDTH : 50 yards PATH LENGTH: 0.2 miles TIME: Approx. 12:41-12:42 am EDT LOCATION: 2 mi NE of Plymouth to 2.2 mi NE of Plymouth Path Map Description A BRIEF EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF LILAC ROAD AND PLYMOUTH GOSHEN TRAIL JUST NE OF PLYMOUTH AROUND 1241 AM EDT. WIDESPREAD HARDWOOD TREE DAMAGE WAS NOTED IN THIS LOCATION WITH SEVERAL UPROOTED AND SNAPPED TREES AND A SHED WAS FLATTENED. AS THE CIRCULATION MOVED NE IT SHIFTED A BARN OFF ITS

6 FOUNDATION AND CAUSED WIDESPREAD SEVERE TREE DAMAGE IN A GROVE OF TREES BEFORE LIFTING IN A FIELD ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TREE GROVE. Kosciusko County Tornado RATING: EF-1 MAX WIND SPEED: 95 mph PATH WIDTH : 150 yards PATH LENGTH: 0.6 miles TIME: Approx. 1:06-1:08 am EDT LOCATION: 2 mi S of Gravelton, IN to 2 mi ENE of Palestine, IN Path Map Description A BRIEF EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN SOUTH OF GRAVELTON NEAR A PROPERTY ON SOUTH COUNTY ROAD 400 WEST WHERE SEVERAL TREE TRUNKS WERE SNAPPED AT THE TOPS OF THE TREES WITH 2 TREES UPROOTED. A SMALL BARN SUFFERED EXTENSIVE ROOF DAMAGE AND PARTIAL WALL FAILURE. THE TORNADO QUICKLY SHIFTED TOWARDS THE SOUTHEAST CROSSING STATE ROUTE 25 WHERE IS BEGAN TO LIFT. PRIOR TO LIFTING...OVER 20 HEALTHY TREES WERE EITHER UPROOTED OR SNAPPED SEVERAL FEET IN THE AIR. ONE OF THE UPROOTED TREES FELL ONTO A RESIDENCE.

7 Kosciusko County Tornado TING: EF-0 MAX WIND SPEED: 80 mph PATH WIDTH : 50 yards PATH LENGTH: 1.9 miles TIME: Approx. 1:06-1:08 am EDT LOCATION: 3.5 mi W to 2.2 mi WNW of Milford Path Map Description A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST SOUTH OF CR 1250N AND EAST OF CR 400W AROUND 106 AM EDT...WHERE A LARGE METAL FARM BUILDING WAS DESTROYED. TORNADO CROSSED CR 1250N AND WENT THROUGH A CORN FIELD AND THEN DESTROYED A BARN NEAR 200W NORTH OF CR 1250N WITH MISSILE DEBRIS SCATTERED TO THE EAST ACROSS 200W AND INTO ANOTHER CORN FIELD WHERE THE CIRCULATION LIFTED AND OR DISSIPATED. Wabash/Kosciusko County Tornado RATING: EF-1 MAX WIND SPEED: 100 mph PATH WIDTH : 150 yards PATH LENGTH: Approx. 7 miles TIME: Approx. 1:08-1:15 am EDT LOCATION: 2.8 miles SSW of Silver Lake, IN to 6.9 miles ESE of Silver Lake, IN Path Map Description AN EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST WEST OF SR 15 IN A CORN FIELD IN NORTHWEST WABASH COUNTY WITH GROUND SCOURING NOTED. THIS TORNADO PROCEEDED EAST NORTHEAST WITH EXTENSIVE TREE AND CROP DAMAGE. SEVERAL FARMSTEADS ALONG THE PATH SUSTAINED MINOR TO MODERATE DAMAGE. ONE FARM JUST NORTH OF THE COUNTY LINE ROAD IN KOSCIUSKO COUNTY HAD A HOG BARN DESTROYED WITH MUCH OF THE DEBRIS THROWN SOUTHEASTWARD INTO A LARGE GRAIN SILO FACILITY WITH ONE LARGE GRAIN BIN COMPLETELY FLATTENED AND SEVERE DAMAGE TO A HARVESTER SILO. IN ADDITION A CORN CROP FIELD TO THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTY LINE ROAD AND JUST EAST OF THE FARM WAS FLATTENED AND SHREDDED. ADDITIONAL EXTENSIVE TREE AND CROP DAMAGE CONTINUED BEFORE

8 THE TORNADO DISSIPATED IN A GROVE OF TREES JUST WEST OF CR 400E. Whitley County Tornado RATING: EF-1 MAX WIND SPEED: 100 mph PATH WIDTH : 50 yards PATH LENGTH: Approx. 0.4 miles TIME: Approx. 1:22-1:23 am EDT LOCATION: 2.7 miles SW of South Whitley, IN to 2.2 miles SSW of South Whitley, IN Path Map Description A BRIEF EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST WEST OF CR 850W IN A BEAN FIELD AND HIT A FARMSTEAD DESTROYING A BARN AND CHICKEN COOP ALONG WITH EXTENSIVE TREE DAMAGE. MUCH OF THE DEBRIS FROM THE BARN WAS LOFTED AND SCATTERED ACROSS THE ADJACENT FIELD TO NORTHEAST AND EMBEDDED THROUGH THE TREELINE ONE QUARTER MILE NORTHEAST. THIS IS ALSO WHERE A HORSE BARN LOST MOST OF ITS ROOF AND A NEARBY HOME AND GARAGE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE TO ROOFING AND SIDING MATERIAL. HOWEVER SEVERE TREE DAMAGE OCCURRED THROUGH A LARGE GROVE OF TREES JUST NORTH OF THIS LOCATION WITH SIGNIFICANT DEBRIS LOADING NOTED IN THE TREES...MANY OF WHICH WERE SNAPPED AND/OR UPROOTED.

9 LaGrange Tornado Path Map Description TING: EF-1 MAX WIND SPEED: 95 mph PATH WIDTH : 50 yards PATH LENGTH: Approx 1 mile TIME: Approx. 1:38-1:40 am EDT LOCATION: 1 mile W of LaGrange to LaGrange A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST WEST OF LAGRANGE ON U.S. 20 AROUND 130 AM EDT...WHERE TREE LIMB DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED. THE TORNADO TRACKED EAST TOWARD LAGRANGE...UPROOTING AND SNAPPING TREES AS IT ENTERED THE TOWN SOUTH OF THE HOSPITAL. NUMEROUS TREES WERE UPROOTED AND SNAPPED JUST WEST OF S COUNTY ROAD 00 E BETWEEN U.S. 20 AND GRANT STREET. THE TORNADO PRODUCED MINOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO HOMES ALONG GRANT STREET BEFORE LIFTING JUST WEST OF S MOUNTAIN STREET. THIS TORNADO WAS EMBEDDED ALONG THE NORTH FLANK OF A MUCH LARGER ONE MILE WIDE SWATH OF INTENSE DAMAGING WINDS OF MPH ALONG AND SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 20 IN LAGRANGE. ESTIMATED WINDS WITH THE TORNADO WERE 95 MPH. The NWS also conducted straight line wind damage surveys. Results in 6 surveyed counties revealed extensive wind damage due to the derechoes and thunderstorms: In Elkhart county trees were uprooted and snapped by winds estimated at 80 mph. At local farms an empty grain bin was flattened, a silo was blown off its foundation, and a roof torn off an outbuilding. A tornado and a microburst caused damage in Kosciusko county. Trees were uprooted and fell on to structures, including an athletic complex at the local high school. Winds estimated at 80 mph damaged corn fields. A boy was killed when a large tree fell on a mobile home. One other person inside was injured. Damage in Lagrange county was extensive. A large tree fell into a house and split it into two, killing a man inside. A tornado and microburst brought many more trees down on to roads. A wall of an elementary school tumbled due to strong winds. A second microburst repeated the cycle by snapping more trees which again fell into homes causing damage. Many residents had no power as hundreds of trees that had snapped or were uprooted took power lines down with them. A barn was picked up off its foundation and dropped into the bed of a pickup truck. Cars were crushed by fallen trees. The county sheriff reported more than 100 phone calls for help.

10 Winds estimated up to 85 mph destroyed a farm outbuilding and flattened corn in Laporte county. Trees were uprooted or snapped, falling into homes and vehicles. Multiple tornadoes and a microburst caused widespread damage in Marshall county. Homes and other structures suffered moderate damage due to winds estimated near 85 mph. Corn was flattened due to the high wind gusts. Finally in St. Joseph county winds to 80 mph uprooted trees in this region. Utility crews worked several days to restore power throughout northern and central Indiana. At its peak 153,000 buildings were determined to be without power. Schools and state parks were closed throughout northeast Indiana. Downed power lines were the main problem affecting Fort Wayne and Allen county. A semi was blown off US30 due to the strong winds. In Noble county at least 12 homes had minor roof damage, although one home had major damage. A car was heavily damaged by a falling tree there. A small shed was destroyed. Trees and power lines fell in many areas. In Elkhart county the city of Goshen declared an emergency to enable more equipment to be brought in to remove the huge pile of storm debris littering the city. In Steuben, DeKalb, and Whitley counties trees and power lines were taken down in winds estimated at 66 mph. Power lines fell on to train tracks in Whitley county. In Wells county a tree blocked a state highway. In Miami county power poles were snapped and trees and power lines downed in 66 mph gusts. Signs and canopies of businesses were carried away by the wind in Huntington county. Wind gust damage occurred more sporadically in central Indiana. In Boone county power poles fell on to roads. Winds to 65 mph in Hendricks county heavily damaged or destroyed barns and other buildings. In adjacent Marion county winds measured to 71 mph uprooted trees and tore down still more power lines. Glass windows were blown out of a store in Johnson county. In Wayne county trees fell on roads while winds to 64 mph took down yet more trees in Ripley and Dearborn counties. The July 1 st severe weather was finally over. Another round of severe weather erupted on July 3 rd but damage this time was localized and minor compared to the widespread event two days earlier. Only one report of severe weather in Porter county was received. Some road signs were ripped out and a tree downed in that single county event. Next up was wind damage in 6 counties as reported on July 7 th. Only trees were damaged that day in Vigo, Switzerland, and Vanderburgh counties. Power lines crashed to the ground in Brown county while a large playground toy was destroyed in Gibson county. Heavy rain in Clay county forced state highway 42 to close after part of the roadway collapsed and was washed away. Trees crashed into power lines and homes in Clay county, disrupting power to 5,000 customers. Despite below average rainfall this week there was virtually no change in Indiana soil moisture status from a week earlier. The July 8 th edition of the US Drought Monitor retains an abnormally dry D0 rating in parts of 6 counties in south central Indiana. This drier region represents about 5% of total Indiana land area.

11 July 8 th 14 th July continued on the cool side of normal for a second week. Rainfall was heavier and came on more days than last week. Severe weather did not go away completely. There were still two days with localized wind damage but there was no widespread destruction as last week and no tornadoes! All but one of the 7 days were cooler than normal. Cold fronts arrived in pairs twice this week, the runner up in each case a reinforcement of the earlier cold air intrusion. As the week began a long cold front stretching from Michigan to Oklahoma to Colorado plunged south through Indiana. The state average temperature was about 1 F below normal on July 8 th. The brunt of the colder air was behind a second cold front which passed through Indiana the next day. The core of the cold air mass was in a high pressure ridge that settled into Michigan on July 10 th, ushering sunny skies and cool temperatures into Indiana. The state average temperature that day was about 6 F below normal, the coldest day of the week. The ridge moved overhead Indiana on July 11 th, pushing east of the state the next day. So began a 3 day warming trend with state temperatures lifting to 5 F below normal, then to 2 F below normal by July 12 th. A new storm system reached Indiana on July 13 th with its warm front running quickly through and north of the state. The state temperature drifted higher to reach 3 F above normal, making July 13 th the warmest day of the week. The warmth didn t last long as later in the day the system s cold front moved through Indiana. The pattern from early in the week repeated on July 14 th as a second cold front unleashed the true edge of the cool Canadian air mass. State temperatures fell to about 1 F below normal to end the week. Overall state temperatures this week were about 2 F below normal. Typically for the second week of July daily maximum temperatures should range between 83 F in far northern Indiana to 89 F in far southwestern counties. Daily minimums normally vary between 63 F and 68 F north to south across the state. Temperatures across Indiana this week peaked at a high of 93 F at Evansville on July 13 th and at Tell City on July 14 th. The lowest temperature in the cooperative network was 50 F at Wanatah and Young America on July 11 th.

12 The timing of rainfall was synchronized around the arrival of the cold fronts. Moderate rainfall totals near 0.6 inch fell early in the week followed by 3 days of mostly dry weather. When the second pair of cold fronts moved through the state late in the week rainfall was heavier, ranging from about 0.5 inch to 1.2 inch. Generally for the week about 0.9 inch of rain covered the northern third of Indiana, about 1.2 inch in central areas, and 1.8 inch across the south. These amounts equate to about 110% of normal in the north, 120% of normal in central Indiana, and 190% of normal in the southern third of the state. Locally heavy shower totals were measured on the morning of July 14 th. Among the largest totals were 3.55 and 3.29 inches recorded by two CoCoRaHS volunteers at Salem. That same day the Newberry volunteer found 3.52 inches in the rain gage. Meanwhile in Springville 3.05 inches was noted while the North Vernon observer had 3.00 inches. Over the entire 7 days the observer in Jasonville had the highest total at 3.79 inches. A Salem observer had 3.37 inches for the week while 3.25 inches was collected in Bedford. The Bloomfield gage tallied 2.95 inches while in Sullivan 2.88 inches was the total. Wind damage was significant in storms on July 8th and 14th in central Indiana. On July 8th winds out of a microburst tossed a trailer into a clutter near Carmel. As is typical trees were also broken. No other damage reports or reports of injuries were received in this event. On July 14th high winds struck central Indiana again. Winds to 65 mph snapped trees in Putnam county. In Hendricks county stop signs were torn down in wind gusts. Strong winds were also a problem in Warren and Fountain counties but no damage was noted. Rainfall was above normal in southwestern Indiana but it did not relieve abnormally dry conditions in counties near Louisville. The July 15 th US Drought Monitor again made no changes to Indiana s soil moisture status. About 5% of total Indiana area is retained in the abnormally dry D0 category while the rest of the state continues in normal soil moisture status.

13 July 15 th 21 st The cool trend in July intensified as the state average temperature remained below normal all 7 days this week. The only significant rain was logged at the start of the week as a storm system departed the state. No fronts...no severe weather...no problem! Finally a quiet break in the weather was welcomed by all throughout the state. The weather in Indiana was delightful with unseasonably low humidity. To kick off this week a cold high pressure ridge plunged south into the Dakotas, transporting cold Canadian air into the Midwest and Indiana. The state temperature on July 15 th dropped, opening the week at 11 F below normal. The ridge expanded the next day to cover the eastern half of the country. Indiana temperatures fell another degree to 12 F below normal, the coldest day of the week. On July 17 th the ridge sprawled still further to include all but the western quarter of the country. Smoke drifting eastward from wildfires in western states was visible in the milky white Indiana skies on July 18 th. The huge ridge trekked slowly east but still dominated Indiana with its fair weather. The state average temperature nudged upward to 10 F below normal. On July 19 th low pressure moved from Texas to Alabama in an attempt to split the massive ridge over the country into two parts. This system had little impact on Indiana state temperature which held steady at 10 F below normal. The next day the ridge prevailed, suppressing the low, and rebuilding into Indiana to lift the state temperature to 6 F below normal. The western edge of the ridge eroded on July 21 st, positioning Indiana into its warm return flow. The state temperature rebounded a little more to end the week at 4 F below normal. Over the 7 days the state temperature averaged to about 9 F below normal. Typically by mid-july daily maximum temperatures across Indiana should range between 83 F and 88 F north to south. Daily minimums normally vary from 63 F in far northern Indiana to 68 F in the southwest corner. The highest daily temperature in the cooperative network this week was 92 F on July 15 th at the Evansville Museum. The lowest minimum temperature was 45 F on July 17 th at Young America, on July 18 th at Plymouth, and on July 19 th at Lowell. Generally a few tenths inch of rain was recorded around the state on the morning of July 15 th. But very little rain fell after that day. Regional totals for the week averaged near 0.2 inch in northern Indiana, 0.4 inch in central, and 0.3 inch across southern Indiana. These amounts are far below normal, coming in at about 20% of normal in the north, and near 40% of normal in central and southern Indiana. A 1.25 inch rain gage reading at Brookville on July 15 th was the heaviest daily amount observed in the CoCoRaHS network this week. Other significant amounts that day included 1.14 inch at Lynn, 1.12 inch in Lebanon, 1.09 inch at Fair Oaks, and 1.05 inch in Rensselaer. The largest weekly totals around Indiana were essentially these same numbers at the same places due to the lack of rainfall later in the week. The week was drier than usual but this had little effect on Indiana soil moisture status. According to the July 22 nd edition of the US Drought Monitor there was no change in ratings this week. About 6 counties in the Louisville vicinity continues in the abnormally dry D0 category. This counts as about 5% of the total land area in the state.

14 July 22 nd 31 st Cooler than normal temperatures have dominated this July. The cool pattern persisted to the end as on only 1 of these final 10 days did the state average temperature exceed normal. Rainfall was observed every day except for one after July 21 st. Just two storms passed through Indiana in 10 days yet large hail and high winds occurred on 5 days. A ridge sprawled overhead the state on July 22 nd. The state average temperature was right at normal. The first storm system of the interval pushed a cold front through Indiana on July 23 rd, forcing temperatures downward the next few days. On July 24 th high pressure was moving into the state, dropping temperatures to 8 F below normal. The ridge drifted overhead Indiana the next day as the state average temperature fell a few more degrees to 10 F below normal. On July 26 th high pressure moved east of Indiana allowing its return flow winds to transport warmer air into the state. The state temperature was 4 F below normal. The second storm of the 10 day interval arrived near Indiana late that evening. The next day the storm s warm front quickly crossed north of Indiana, tapping into warmer air and lifting the state average temperature to 1 F above normal, the warmest of the 10 days. The cold front of this storm marched through Indiana on July 28 th closely followed by the next high pressure center. Temperatures retreated to 10 F below normal on July 29 th as colder air recaptured the state. By the next day high pressure had spread to cover about two-thirds of the country, including Indiana. The cold air flow had now been cut off, allowing Indiana temperatures to rebound slightly on July 30 th and 31 st, closing the month at 4 F below normal. Overall the two-storm cycle kept temperatures cool, averaging to 5 F below normal over the 10 days. Normally the daily maximum temperature over this 10 day interval should range between 82 F and 88 F north to south across the state. Daily minimums typically vary from 63 F in far northern counties to 67 F in far southwest Indiana. The highest daily maximum temperature in the cooperative network over the 10 days was 94 F at Evansville on July 26 th. The lowest daily minimum was 39 F at Columbia City on July 24 th. It was rainy in late July with daily amounts typically as high as 0.3 inch before July 28 th but much lighter afterwards. Regionally 10 day totals increased north to south with near 0.7 inch in northern Indiana, about 1.2 inch in central areas, and 1.3 inches across the southern third of the state. These

15 amounts equate to near 60% of normal in the north, 90% of normal in central sections, and right about normal in the south. Locally amounts were heavier in thunderstorms. In the CoCoRaHS network Carmel measured 3.30 inches and Indianapolis 2.31 inches on the morning of July 24 th. On July 27 th Spencer reported 2.68 inches and Bloomington noted 2.58 inches. On July 28 th the North Vernon observer caught 2.90 inches in the gage. For the full 10 days central Indiana put up the biggest totals. The Carmel observer tallied 5.15 inches. Three Indianapolis volunteers had 4.39 inches, 4.00 inches, and 3.85 inches. Craigville came in with 3.96 inches. An Indiana map immediately following this article shows the distribution of rainfall for these 10 days. On July 23 rd lightning strikes were blamed for setting fire to 3 homes in Hamilton county and 2 more in Hendricks county. On July 25 th one inch diameter hail fell in Fountain county but no damage was reported. The next day hail was scattered across Indiana. One inch hail was reported in Kosciusko, Putnam, Brown, and Perry counties. Wells county residents noted hail 1.50 inch to 2.00 inch in diameter. That same day high winds toppled trees into power lines in Vermillion county. Roads were blocked by fallen trees in Scott county while a tree fell on a house in Perry county. Trees were also reported down across Harrison county. Hail and wind damage continued on July 27 th. In northeast Indiana hail 1.00 to 1.25 inch fell in St. Joseph, Elkhart, Kosciusko, and Allen counties. Heavier hail to 1.75 inch was reported in Whitley county. One inch hail was also noted in Delaware county. Meanwhile trees snagged power lines in Noble, Whitley, Fountain and Morgan counties. Trees fell and blocked roads in Kosciusko, Allen, and Wayne counties. Wind gusts were measured to 60 mph. There was a single report of wind damage to trees in Marion county on July 29 th and to trees in Marshall county on July 31 st. The small area of abnormally dry soils in Indiana showed slight improvement. According to the July 29 th issue of the US Drought Monitor, only 3 percent of Indiana soils are in abnormally dry condition, a tad better than the 5 percent rating of a week ago. The D0 category has shrunk slightly from 6 counties down to 5 counties, all clustered near Louisville.

16 July 2014 Temperature Region Temperature Normal Deviation Northwest North Central Northeast West Central Central East Central Southwest South Central Southeast State Precipitation Region Precipitation Normal Deviation Percent of Normal Northwest North Central Northeast West Central Central East Central Southwest South Central Southeast State

17 Summer so far (June - July) Temperature Region Temperature Normal Deviation Northwest North Central Northeast West Central Central East Central Southwest South Central Southeast State Precipitation Region Precipitation Normal Deviation Percent of Normal Northwest North Central Northeast West Central Central East Central Southwest South Central Southeast State

18 2014 Annual so far Temperature Region Temperature Normal Deviation Northwest North Central Northeast West Central Central East Central Southwest South Central Southeast State Precipitation Region Precipitation Normal Deviation Percent of Normal Northwest North Central Northeast West Central Central East Central Southwest South Central Southeast State

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22 Drought Summary from the U.S. Drought Monitor Below is a drought summary for the state of Indiana from the U.S. Drought Monitor. Areas in white are not experiencing any drought. Yellow areas are abnormally dry, but not considered a drought. Drought begins when the moisture levels become more severe, with beige, orange, red, and brown indicating increasing levels of drought (moderate, severe, extreme, and exceptional, respectively). The table below indicates what percentage of the state is drought free, and how much of the state is in drought by degree of severity (D1 - D4 category).

23 July 1 st Drought Summary

24 July 8 th Drought Summary

25 July 15 th Drought Summary

26 July 22 nd Drought Summary

27 July 29 th Drought Summary