Indiana’s location in the interior of North America and the lack of mountains to the north and south expose the state to incursions of bitterly cold air masses from the Arctic in the winter and warm, humid air masses from the Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico) in the summer. Annual average temperature varies widely across the state, with a range of about 10°F from north to south. Typical summer maximum temperatures range from the low 80s (°F) in northern parts of the state to the high 80s in the south (1991–2020 averages). Average winter minimum temperatures range from less than 20°F in the north to almost 30°F in the south. In northwestern Indiana, Lake Michigan moderates the temperature, causing cooler summers and warmer winters.
Time series of observed and projected temperature change (in degrees Fahrenheit) for Indiana from 1900 to 2100 as described in the caption.
Y-axis values range from negative 4 to positive 20 degrees. Observed annual temperatures from 1900 to 2024 show variability and range from negative 3.3 to positive 3.8 degrees. By the end of the century, projected increases in temperature range from 2.2 to 8.3 degrees under the lower emissions pathway, from 4.5 to 10.7 degrees under the intermediate pathway, and from 8.6 to 17.5 degrees under the higher pathway.
Two graphs of the observed (a) winter and (b) summer average temperatures for Indiana from 1985–96 to 2023–24 and 1895 to 2024, respectively as described in the caption.
Panel A: Winter Average Temperature
Y-axis values range from 16 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Annual values show year-to-year variability and range from 19.7 to 37.4 degrees. Five-year values also show variability and are all near or below the long-term average of 29.1 degrees between 1895 and 1989 except for the 1930 to 1934 and 1950 to 1954 periods. Since 1990, 5-year values are all near or above average. The 1975 to 1979 period has the lowest 5-year value at 25.0 degrees, and the 2020 to 2024 period has the highest at 33.3 degrees.
Panel B: Summer Average Temperature
Y-axis values range from 68 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Annual values show year-to-year variability and range from 68.5 to 76.5 degrees. Five-year values also show variability and are mostly near or below the long-term average of 72.6 degrees between 1895 and 1929, mostly near or above average between 1930 and 1959, and all below average between 1960 and 1979. Since 1980, 5-year values are mostly above average. The 1925 to 1929 period has the lowest 5-year value at 71.0 degrees, and the 1930 to 1934 period has the highest at 74.4 degrees.
Two graphs of the observed annual number of (a) very hot days and (b) very warm nights for Indiana from 1900 to 2024 as described in the caption.
Panel A: Very Hot Days
Y-axis values range from 0 to 44 days. Annual values show year-to-year variability and range from 0 to 39.5 days. Five-year values also show variability and are mostly near or above the long-term average of 6.5 days between 1900 and 1954 but are all near or below average since 1955. The 2015 to 2019 period has the lowest 5-year value at 0.5 days, and the 1930 to 1934 period has the highest at 20.3 days.
Panel B: Very Warm Nights
Y-axis values range from 0 to 14 nights. Annual values show year-to-year variability and range from 0 to 12.5 nights. Five-year values also show variability and are mostly near or below the long-term average of 1.5 nights between 1900 and 1979. Exceptions include the 1930 to 1934 and 1935 to 1939 periods, which have the highest 5-year values at 4.8 and 3.8 nights, respectively. Since 1980, 5-year values are mostly near or above average. The 1960 to 1964 and 1970 to 1974 periods have the lowest 5-year values at 0.4 nights each.
Graph of the observed annual number of very cold nights for Indiana from 1900 to 2024 as described in the caption.
Y-axis values range from 0 to 32 nights. Annual values show year-to-year variability and range from 0 to 27.0 nights. Five-year values also show variability and are mostly above the long-term average of 6.0 nights between 1900 and 1919, all near or below average between 1920 and 1959, and all near or above average between 1960 and 1989. Since 1990, 5-year values are all near or below average. The 2020 to 2024 period has the lowest 5-year value at 2.6 nights, and the 1975 to 1976 period has the highest at 14.2 nights.
Statewide annual precipitation has varied from a low of 29.1 inches in 1963 to a high of 55.2 inches in 2011 (Figure 5). Annual precipitation also varies widely across the state, ranging from about 48 inches in the south to 39 inches in the north (1991–2020 averages). For snowfall, the pattern is reversed, with the southwest averaging less than 15 inches and some northern locations near Lake Michigan averaging more than 65 inches. Locations close to Lake Michigan occasionally receive heavy winter precipitation from lake-effect snows (localized, enhanced snowfall caused by cold, dry air moving across warmer lake water), but these big snow events can extend as far inland as Elkhart (north-central Indiana). On January 18–19, 2024, a lake-effect storm dropped 21.9 inches of snow in La Porte, setting a new single-day record for that location. The worst blizzard in the state occurred in central Indiana in January 1978, where significant snowfall occurred for a period of 31 hours, leading to widespread impacts and 70 deaths. Indianapolis received snowfall totals of 20 inches—a record that still stands today.
Graph of the observed total annual precipitation for Indiana from 1895 to 2024 as described in the caption.
Y-axis values range from 24 to 60 inches. Annual values show year-to-year variability and range from 29.1 to 55.2 inches. Five-year values also show variability and are mostly near or below the long-term average of 40.5 inches between 1895 and 1969 but are all near or above average since 1970 except for the 1985 to 1989 period. The 1940 to 1944 period has the lowest 5-year value at 35.2 inches, and the 2015 to 2019 period has the highest at 47.2 inches.
On average, Indiana has experienced wet springs and summers since the late 1990s and late 1970s, respectively (Figures 6a and 6b). While above-average precipitation during these critical growth months is important for adequate soil moisture, it can potentially lead to significant impacts such as loss of soil nutrients, planting delays, and reduced crop yields.
Two graphs of the observed total (a) spring and (b) summer precipitation for Indiana from 1895 to 2024 as described in the caption.
Panel A: Total Spring Precipitation
Y-axis values range from 4 to 22 inches. Annual values show year-to-year variability and range from 5.2 to 19.6 inches. Five-year values also show variability and are mostly near or below the long-term average of 11.6 inches between 1895 and 1994 but are all above average since 1995. The 1930 to 1934 period has the lowest 5-year value at 9.2 inches, and the 1995 to 1999 period has the highest at 13.7 inches.
Panel B: Total Summer Precipitation
Y-axis values range from 4 to 22 inches. Annual values show year-to-year variability and range from 6.1 to 20.3 inches. Five-year values also show variability and are all near or below the long-term average of 11.6 inches between 1895 and 1974 except for the 1955 to 1959 period. Since 1975, 5-year values are mostly near or above average. The 1930 to 1934 period has the lowest 5-year value at 9.2 inches, and the 2015 to 2019 period has the highest at 15.0 inches.
Indiana has also experienced an increase in the number of 2-inch extreme precipitation events since the 1970s, although values during the 2020–2024 period were generally below average (Figure 7). Extreme precipitation events can often lead to severe flooding. The Great Flood of March 23–26, 1913, was the worst flood in Indiana history. Heavy rainfall caused many rivers across the state to reach flood stage. More than 100 people were killed, with damages estimated at more than $20 million. Heavy rains also led to severe flooding across central and southern Indiana on June 6–7, 2008, when up to 10 inches of precipitation fell on saturated ground. Many streams reached record flood levels. In total, 39 counties were declared disaster areas, and damages were estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars. In the summer of 2015, central Indiana experienced historic levels of rainfall; it was the wettest July on record for Indianapolis (8.7 inches above normal). Flooding in June and July exceeded flood control capacity in three reservoirs for the first time since they were built in the late 1960s. The magnitude of this event rivaled that of the exceptional drought that impacted the state in 2012 (discussed below).
Graph of the observed annual number of 2-inch extreme precipitation events for Indiana from 1900 to 2024 as described in the caption.
Y-axis values range from 0 to 4 events. Annual values show year-to-year variability and range from 0.4 to 3.7 events. Five-year values also show variability and are mostly near or below the long-term average of 1.6 events between 1900 and 1989 but are all above average between 1990 and 2019. The 2020 to 2024 period is below average. The 1970 to 1974 period has the lowest 5-year value at 1.0 events, and the 2005 to 2009 and 2015 to 2019 periods have the highest at 2.4 and 2.3 events, respectively.
Indiana has experienced several other extreme weather and climate events in recent years. Dangerous storms can occur in every season and can cause major impacts, including loss of life, property damage, and disruptions to economic activity. Winter can bring snow and ice storms, while thunderstorms capable of producing floods, hail, and tornadoes are common in the warmer months. One of the state’s worst winter storms occurred during December 22–23, 2004. More than 20 inches of snow fell across the southern part of the state. Many locations reported record amounts, including the city of Washington, with 32 inches of snow. With temperatures below freezing, the snow lingered for several days, shutting down airports and interstates and stranding holiday travelers. The storm killed five people, and a state of emergency was declared for 50 counties. Heavy snowstorms during the first week of January 2014 dumped at least 1 foot of snow over central and northern Indiana, with more than 2 feet recorded in several locations.
Indiana has a long and deadly history of tornadic storms. On March 18, 1925, the deadliest tornado in US history—the Tri-State Tornado—struck southwestern Indiana after tracking across Missouri and Illinois. The tornado destroyed parts of Griffin, Owensville, and Princeton and caused hundreds of injuries and 76 deaths. The Palm Sunday Outbreak on April 11, 1965, included several tornadoes in Indiana, eight of them at F4 intensity. The outbreak injured hundreds in the state and killed more than 130 people. Indiana’s largest tornado outbreak occurred on June 2, 1990, and included 37 tornadoes, several of them at F4 intensity. More recently, thunderstorms on March 31, 2023, produced 22 tornadoes in central Indiana, leading to five fatalities. This was the fifth-largest tornado outbreak in Indiana history.
Agriculture, an important sector of Indiana’s economy, is particularly vulnerable to a variety of extreme weather conditions. In 2007, unusually high March temperatures followed by a hard freeze in April devastated much of the state’s fruit crops, with total agricultural losses estimated at more than $40 million. In 2012, a large drought across the Midwest severely impacted the state. Rainfall for May, June, and July totaled 6.6 inches, more than 5 inches below average, making this the fourth-driest May–July period (after 1936, 1930, and 1988) in 130 years of recordkeeping (1895–2024). By early August, almost 70% of the state was in extreme drought (as defined by the US Drought Monitor), with a quarter of the state experiencing exceptional drought. The drought caused major damage to crops, particularly in the southern third of the state.
Changes in seasonal and multiyear precipitation, evaporation, and temperature can affect water levels in the Great Lakes, causing serious environmental and socioeconomic impacts. Extreme high lake levels can damage beaches, erode shorelines, and flood and damage nearshore structures. Low lake levels can affect the supply and quality of water, restrict shipping, and result in the loss of wetlands. Reduced winter ice cover from rising temperatures also leaves shores vulnerable to erosion and flooding. Water levels in the Great Lakes have fluctuated widely since the early 20th century. For Lake Michigan–Huron (Figure 8), levels were generally high in the early 20th century, early 1950s, early 1970s, mid-1980s, and late 2010s. Levels were lowest in the mid-1920s, mid-1930s, mid-1960s, and, for an extended period, in the early 2000s to mid-2010s—averaging 577.5 feet over 2000–2013. Lake levels rose rapidly after that, reaching a record high of 581.7 feet in 2020 before dropping off to early-1990s levels by 2023.
Time series of annual average water levels for Lake Michigan–Huron from 1918 to 2023 as described in the caption.
Y-axis values range from 576 to 583 feet. Annual values show wide variability and range from a high of nearly 582 feet in 1986 and 2020 to a low of about 576 feet in 1964. Annual values are mostly between 577 and 579 feet from the beginning of the period to the late 1960s but mostly between 579 and 581 feet from the early 1970s to late 1990s. The 2000s through the early 2010s show consistently low water levels between 577 and 578 feet. Levels rose sharply in the late 2010s to nearly 582 feet in 2020 but then dropped to nearly 579 feet by 2023.
Under the intermediate and higher emissions pathways, historically unprecedented warming is projected during this century (Figure 1). Even under the lower emissions pathway, most projections show annual average temperatures exceeding historical levels by the middle of the century. However, projections for all three pathways show a large range of potential temperature increases, and some projections for the lower pathway are comparable to recent observed values. With rising temperatures, the intensity of cold waves is projected to decrease, while future heat waves are projected to be more intense. Extreme heat is a particular concern for Indianapolis and other urban areas. Heat absorbed and emitted by buildings and pavement makes cities even warmer than the surrounding countryside, a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect.
Under the intermediate emissions pathway, projected increases in total spring precipitation by midcentury are statistically significant for a portion of eastern Indiana but are less certain elsewhere (Figure 9). Statistically significant increases are also projected for annual precipitation (in the north-central portion of the state) and winter precipitation (along the northern borders with Michigan and Ohio). There is uncertainty in projections for summer and fall precipitation. The frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events are projected to increase, potentially resulting in increased flooding. Heavier spring precipitation increases the risk of springtime flooding, posing a threat to Indiana’s important agricultural economy by delaying planting and reducing crop yields.
Map of the contiguous United States showing the projected changes in total spring precipitation by the middle of this century as described in the caption. The state of Indiana is outlined in black.
Legend values range from less than negative 10 to greater than positive 15 percent. Note: unless otherwise specified, projected values are not statistically significant.
Indiana
Projected increases in total spring precipitation for Indiana are as follows: 5 to 10 percent across the southern half of the state and a small portion of the northwestern corner, 10 to 15 percent across most the northern half, and statistically significant increases in the 5 to 15 percent range along the central portion of the eastern border.
Contiguous US
Projected increases in total spring precipitation are as follows: up to 5 percent across a narrow strip running westward and curving northwestward from western Georgia into the Pacific Northwest; 5 to 10 percent in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast, as well as southern areas of the Midwest, central portions of the Great Plains, and portions of the Northwest; and 10 to 15 percent in the northern areas of the Northeast, Midwest, and Great Plains, with statistically significant increases in the 10 to 15 percent range across the northern border of the country stretching from Maine to Montana.
Decreases of up to 10 percent are seen across the southern Great Plains and Southwest, including southern Texas, all of Arizona, and most of New Mexico and California.
Droughts, a natural part of Indiana’s climate, are projected to increase in intensity due to higher temperatures and the associated increase in evaporation rates and soil moisture loss.