Climate Overview
Indiana has a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and humid, winters are cold with moderate snowfall, and spring is tornado season. The state's flat terrain makes it vulnerable to severe weather, including thunderstorms, tornadoes, and occasional ice storms.
Indianapolis (Central) — Monthly Averages
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip (in) | Snow (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35° | 21° | 2.9" | 7.5" |
| Feb | 39° | 24° | 2.5" | 5.8" |
| Mar | 51° | 33° | 3.3" | 2.4" |
| Apr | 63° | 43° | 3.9" | 0.3" |
| May | 73° | 53° | 4.7" | — |
| Jun | 82° | 63° | 4.3" | — |
| Jul | 85° | 66° | 4.4" | — |
| Aug | 84° | 64° | 3.6" | — |
| Sep | 77° | 56° | 3.2" | — |
| Oct | 65° | 44° | 3" | 0.1" |
| Nov | 51° | 34° | 3.3" | 1.2" |
| Dec | 38° | 24° | 3" | 5.6" |
| Annual | 62° | 44° | 42.1" | 22.9" |
Temperature Range by Month
Fort Wayne (Northeast) — Monthly Averages
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip (in) | Snow (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32° | 18° | 2.2" | 10.2" |
| Feb | 36° | 21° | 1.9" | 7.8" |
| Mar | 48° | 30° | 2.7" | 4.1" |
| Apr | 61° | 40° | 3.5" | 0.8" |
| May | 72° | 51° | 4.2" | — |
| Jun | 81° | 61° | 3.9" | — |
| Jul | 84° | 65° | 4.1" | — |
| Aug | 82° | 63° | 3.4" | — |
| Sep | 76° | 55° | 3" | — |
| Oct | 63° | 43° | 2.8" | 0.3" |
| Nov | 49° | 33° | 3" | 2.5" |
| Dec | 35° | 22° | 2.6" | 8.4" |
| Annual | 60° | 42° | 37.3" | 34.1" |
Temperature Range by Month
Evansville (South) — Monthly Averages
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip (in) | Snow (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40° | 24° | 3.3" | 4.2" |
| Feb | 45° | 28° | 3" | 3.1" |
| Mar | 56° | 37° | 4" | 1.1" |
| Apr | 67° | 47° | 4.6" | — |
| May | 77° | 57° | 5.2" | — |
| Jun | 85° | 66° | 4.1" | — |
| Jul | 89° | 70° | 3.8" | — |
| Aug | 88° | 68° | 3" | — |
| Sep | 81° | 60° | 3.1" | — |
| Oct | 69° | 48° | 3.2" | — |
| Nov | 55° | 38° | 3.8" | 0.4" |
| Dec | 43° | 28° | 3.6" | 2.3" |
| Annual | 66° | 48° | 44.7" | 11.1" |
Temperature Range by Month
North vs. South: A Tale of Two Climates
Indiana spans roughly 250 miles from north to south, and the climate difference is significant. Fort Wayne in the northeast gets three times as much snow as Evansville in the south, while Evansville's summers are noticeably hotter and more humid. The Lake Michigan shoreline creates its own microclimate in the northwest, with lake-effect snow in winter and cooler breezes in summer.
| Metric | Fort Wayne (North) | Indianapolis (Central) | Evansville (South) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual High | 60°F | 62°F | 66°F |
| Avg Annual Low | 42°F | 44°F | 48°F |
| Annual Precip | 37.3" | 42.1" | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.1" | 22.9" | 11.1" |
Weather Records
| Highest Temp | 116°F — Jasper County (July 14, 1936) |
| Lowest Temp | -36°F — New Whiteland (January 19, 1994) |
| Max Rainfall (24h) | 10.5 inches — Princeton (September 1, 2003) |
| Max Snowfall (24h) | 20.0 inches — Rochester (December 2004) |
Tornado Statistics
| Annual Average | 22 tornadoes |
| Peak Season | April through June |
| Strongest Recorded | Tri-State Tornado (March 18, 1925) — crossed from Missouri through Illinois into Indiana, killing 71 in Indiana alone |
Tornado Intensity Distribution
Growing Season & Hardiness Zones
Indiana's agricultural economy depends on a growing season that averages 185 days, with the last spring frost typically arriving in mid-April and the first fall frost in mid-October.