Indiana Climate – July 2026 Update
Top 5 Cities: Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend, and Carmel
Summary
Indiana recorded its 19th warmest July on record as warmer nights pushed temperatures above the long-term average, despite a dry turn after a damp late spring and early summer. Globally, the land surface logged its 2nd warmest May to July period in 87 years of records. Conditions in the region are expected to remain near average into autumn.
This month in numbers
In July 2026, Indiana recorded an average temperature of 24.28°C, sitting 0.9°C above the 1961-1990 baseline to mark the 19th warmest on record. Maximum temperatures averaged 30°C, while minimum temperatures reached 18.56°C, which is 1.4°C above normal. Rainfall dropped to 78.49 mm, creating a monthly deficit of 30.5 mm and ranking 64th on record. Statewide figures contrasted with global land surface temperatures, which reached 15.8°C to mark the 3rd warmest July on record, while the global three-month average of 14.34°C ranked 2nd warmest overall.
What changed
Across the May to July season, total precipitation reached 374.91 mm, placing it 21st wettest on record with a surplus of 62.6 mm. The 3-month average temperature held at 20.5°C, just 0.2°C above baseline. In our cross-region index, Indiana ranked 228th out of 232 global territories for 3-month anomaly, making it the 5th coolest region worldwide over that span. Within the Ohio Valley climate group at US Ohio Valley, Indiana was the coolest state this month. Longer-term data shows a statewide warming trend of +1.35°C since baseline, following a 2025 average temperature of 11.57°C.
What’s driving change?
Regional temperature patterns were shaped by jet stream shifts that allowed cooler air masses to stall over the Midwest during late spring before standard summer warmth returned. Nighttime warming continues to outpace daytime highs, amplified in built-up areas by the effect. On the live tracker at Extreme Weather tracker, all of Indiana's 2 wildfires this year have happened in the past month as drier conditions set in.
Looking ahead
Seasonal forecasts from NOAA suggest near-normal temperatures and precipitation across the Midwest over the next 1-3 months.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
At a Glance
Temperature – Average
Climate Map – USUnited States
Source: NOAA Climate at a Glance — US states & climate regions (tavg, pcp), plus GPCC (Snow, water-equivalent). Anomalies are vs the 1961–1990 baseline. See methodology.
Typical Climate – Indiana
Köppen Dfa · ContinentalIndiana has a continental climate (Köppen Dfa: Humid continental - hot summer), with distinct warm summers and cool-to-cold winters. July is typically the warmest month, averaging 23.9°C, while January is the coldest at -1.7°C. Annual precipitation averages around 1103mm, spread fairly evenly across the year.
Monthly climate normals (2016–2025) - bar colour and height show average temperature, the shaded area shows average monthly rain, with snow (water-equivalent) shown separately.
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Long-Term Trends
Combined Timeline – Indiana
Precipitation, Sunshine, Frost and Snow are converted to standard deviations from their own average so they can share an axis with Temperature.
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Heatwave Days – Indiana
Warm Spell Duration Index (WSDI) - days in a 6+ day run above the local 90th-percentile temperature for that time of year.
Data: World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5-derived). Refreshed roughly 1-2x/year, ~7-8 months behind present.
Year-on-Year Trends
The 4byo Climate Helix – Indiana
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Monthly Temperature – Indiana
Background lines show the last 40 years (plus the record year and its opposite, wherever they fall).
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Records – Indiana
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)) - Anomalies vs 1901-2000 mean
Shifting Seasons
Warm / cold seasonsKöppen Dfa · ContinentalHow spring and autumn have shifted in Indiana. Spring is defined as the date monthly temperatures first rise above the long-term annual mean (10.6°C, from 1950–1979); autumn is the date they fall back below it. Temperature swings 27.0°C peak-to-peak across the year - a classic four-seasons rhythm.
Baseline vs recent monthly temperature climatology. Biggest warming: Feb (+2.6°C).
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Emissions & Energy
Explore
Explore Climate Data
Data Sources
Data Sources for Indiana
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) - see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
Statewide monthly temperature and precipitation (nClimDiv).
Frost Days and Heatwave Days (Warm Spell Duration Index), ERA5-derived. World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal.
Monthly snow water-equivalent, Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (DWD).
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in Indiana changing?
Indiana is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The headline panel also shows the long-term trend rate per decade and the warmest and coolest years on file.
What is the climate like in Indiana?
Indiana has a continental climate (Köppen Dfa: Humid continental - hot summer), with distinct warm summers and cool-to-cold winters. July is typically the warmest month, averaging 23.9°C, while January is the coldest at -1.7°C. Annual precipitation averages around 1103mm, spread fairly evenly across the year.
Where does the climate data for Indiana come from?
Climate data for Indiana comes from NOAA Climate at a Glance (temperature and precipitation), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the Indiana climate data cover?
The Indiana climate profile covers Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend and surrounding areas. Indiana climate data from NOAA Climate at a Glance
How often is the Indiana climate update refreshed?
The Indiana climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.
What counts as a Heatwave Day on the Indiana climate page?
Heatwave Days use the Warm Spell Duration Index (WSDI) - the WMO/ETCCDI-standard heatwave measure: days that are part of a run of 6 or more consecutive days above the local 90th-percentile temperature for that calendar day. The 90th-percentile threshold varies by time of year (a hot day in January is judged differently to one in July) but is fixed to the 1961-1990 baseline for every year shown - it does not shift as the climate warms, which is why Heatwave Days trend upward over time.
Does the Indiana climate page include frost and snow data?
Yes. Frost Days (days with a minimum temperature below 0°C, World Bank CCKP) and snow water-equivalent (GPCC) are shown alongside temperature and precipitation, each measured against the 1961-1990 baseline where a like-for-like historical comparison is available.