Dry and Warm Spring of 2012

This spring was marked by very dry conditions and above normal temperatures across the area. We decided to take a look at precipitation and temperature values for Fort Wayne and South Bend to assess how warm and dry this spring actually was compared to past years.

Not only were conditions very dry across the area but temperatures were very warm during the spring. The hottest all time May temperature records were set on May 27th at both Fort Wayne and South Bend. Fort Wayne reached 96 degrees which broke the old record of 95 degrees set on May 27, 1911. South Bend reached 97 degrees which broke the old record of 96 set on March 31, 1934. Incredibly, the average temperature in April was cooler than March, albeit still slightly above normal at both Fort Wayne and South Bend.

Top 10 Driest Springs on Record (March 1 - May 31)

Fort Wayne	Rank	South Bend
10.50"	Normal	9.48"
5.07" - 1958	1	4.24" - 1971
5.25" - 2012	2	4.25" - 2005
5.31" - 2005	3	4.40" - 1994
5.39" - 1932	4	4.42" - 1958
5.54" - 1941	5	5.37" - 1900
5.64" - 1910	6	5.39" - 1934
6.32" - 1934	7	5.67" - 1928
6.36" - 1918	8	6.03" - 2012
6.45" - 1971	9	6.08" - 1968
6.63" - 1931 & 2001	10	6.29" - 1992

* Data missing at South Bend for 1895 and 1938

Driest April - May on Record

Fort Wayne	Rank	South Bend
7.79"	Normal	7.06"
2.35" - 2012	1	2.14" - 1971
2.69" - 1925	2	2.20" - 2005
3.42" - 1932	3	2.91" - 1900
3.53" - 1899	4	3.16" - 1934
3.57" - 1934	5	3.36" - 1992
3.85" - 2005	6	3.43" - 1985
3.85" - 1985	7	3.60" - 1994
4.04" - 1936	8	3.63" - 1901
4.13" - 1941	9	3.69" - 1925
4.21" - 1976	10	3.78" - 1932

	19	4.36" - 2012

* Data missing at South Bend for 1895 and 1938
* Data missing at Fort Wayne for 1902

Driest Mays on Record

Fort Wayne	Rank	South Bend
4.27"	Normal	3.83"
0.48" - 1925	1	0.80" - 1994
1.04" - 1977	2	1.06" - 2005
1.06" - 2012	3	1.09" - 1934
1.07" - 1939	4	1.17" - 1992
1.09" - 1994	5	1.19" - 1961
1.10" - 2007	6	1.25" - 1903
1.20" - 1934	7	1.30" - 1895
1.21" - 1950	8	1.32" - 1964
1.21" - 1932	9	1.40" - 1988
1.57" - 1936	10	1.50" - 1985
	28	2.14" - 2012*

Warmest Spring (March - May) Average Maximum Temperatures on Record

Fort Wayne	Rank	South Bend
60.3 F	Normal	58.7 F
69.4 F - 2012	1	66.8 F - 2012
66.8 F - 1977	2	66.7 F - 1977
66.3 F - 1985	3	63.7 F - 1991
65.7 F - 2010	4	63.3 F - 2010
64.3 F - 1921	5	63.2 F - 1985

Warmest Spring (March - May) Average Temperatures on Record

Fort Wayne	Rank	South Bend
49.6 F	Normal	48.6 F
57.0 F - 2012	1	56.1 F - 1977
55.6 F - 1977	2	55.7 F - 2012
55.0 F - 1985	3	53.8 F - 1991
54.6 F - 2010	4	53.1 F - 1985
54.3 F - 1921	5	52.4 F - 2010

Warmest Spring (March - May) Average Minimum Temperatures on Record

Fort Wayne	Rank	South Bend
38.9 F	Normal	38.5 F
44.5 F - 2012	1	45.4 F - 1977
44.3 F - 1977	2	44.6 F - 2012
44.3 F - 1921	3	43.9 F - 1991
43.8 F - 1991	4	43.5 F - 1921
43.7 F - 1985	5	43.1 F - 1985
43.6 F - 2010	6	42.3 F - 1973
43.0 F - 1903	7	41.7 F - 1922

Warmest May Average Maximum Temperatures on Record

Fort Wayne	Rank	South Bend
71.7 F	Normal	70.0 F
80.9 F - 1977	1	81.3 F - 1977
80.6 F - 1911	2	80.4 F - 1934
80.3 F - 2012	3	78.1 F - 1911
78.6 F - 1988	4	78.0 F - 1991
78.4 F - 1991	5	77.2 F - 2007
78.2 F -2007	6	77.0 F -1918
78.1 F - 1998	7	76.6 - 2012
77.7 F - 1985	8	76.5 F - 1998
77.4 F - 1962	9	76.2 F - 1987
77.2 F 1982, 1900	10	76.2 F - 1982

Warmest May Average Temperatures on Record

Fort Wayne	Rank	South Bend
60.4 F	Normal	59.3 F
67.9 F - 1977	1	68.6 F - 1977
67.2 F - 1991	2	67.4 F - 1991
67.0 F - 2012	3	66.5 F - 1911
66.9 F - 1962	4	66.0 F - 1982
66.5 F - 1911	5	65.9 F - 1918
66.4 F - 1998	6	65.4 F - 1934
66.4 F -1982	7	65.0 F - 1998
66.0 F - 1918	8	64.9 F - 1962
65.0 F - 2007	9	64.7 F - 2012
65.0 F - 1985, 1965	10	64.7 F - 1987

CEO/NG/SLL

Updated 8/19/2012 9pm

Severe Thunderstorms in the East Sunday; Excessive Heat Lingers in the Southern U.S. and Returning to California