Climate - Indianapolis (Indiana)

The climate of Indianapolis, the capital and main city of Indiana, is continental, with very cold winters and warm to hot summers, during which there are quite frequent thunderstorms.
The city is located in the Midwest of the United States, at an altitude of 220 meters (720 feet).
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -1.9 °C (28.5 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 24.3 °C (75.8 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 1,110 millimeters (43.6 inches) per year: it is therefore quite abundant. It ranges from 60 mm (2.4 in) in the driest month (February) to 125 mm (4.9 in) in the wettest (June). Here is the average precipitation.

Winter, from late November to early March, is very cold. Snowfalls are frequent, and at times can be abundant. On average, 65 centimeters (25 inches) of snow fall per year. The heaviest snowfall in one day occurred in January 2014, when 29 cm (11.5 in) of snow fell. However, snow is not as abundant as on the east coast of the United States or in the Great Lakes region.
Cold waves are intense, in fact, the temperature drops below -20 °C (-4 °F) almost every year. The record cold, -33 °C (-27 °F), was set in January 1994.
However, there can also be short, fairly mild periods, with highs of 12/13 °C (54/55 °F) or more.

Summer, from June to August, is hot and quite sunny, although thunderstorms can break out in the afternoon.
However, there can sometimes be very hot and muggy periods. Typically, the temperature reaches 35 °C (95 °F) on the hottest days of the year, although the record is 40.5 °C (105 °F), set in July 2012.

Spring and autumn, from mid-March to May and from September to mid-November, are contrasted seasons, with fairly frequent rains and sudden changes in temperature. However, there are also stable and pleasant periods.
We are in the area where tornadoes can form, which are more likely in spring, but sometimes can also occur in autumn.



On average, there are around 2,440 sunshine hours per year. Therefore, even though the winter is cold and the summer is rainy, the sun shines for a good number of hours. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Best Time

The best times to visit Indianapolis are spring and autumn, especially the months of May and September.
In October, you can admire the beautiful colors of the trees losing their leaves (the phenomenon called fall foliage).

Indianapolis - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Indianapolis is usually very cold. The average temperature is of -1.9 °C (28 °F), with a minimum of -6.2 °C (20.9 °F) and a maximum of 2.3 °C (36.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -19 °C (-2 °F). However, it dropped to -32.8 °C (-27 °F) in January 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15 °C (59 °F). However, it reached 20 °C (68 °F) in January 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).

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In February, the weather in Indianapolis is usually cold. The average temperature is of 0.3 °C (33 °F), with a minimum of -4.3 °C (24.2 °F) and a maximum of 4.9 °C (40.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -15 °C (5 °F). However, it dropped to -24.5 °C (-12.1 °F) in February 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18 °C (64.5 °F). However, it reached 25 °C (77 °F) in February 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (11 mph).

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In March, the weather in Indianapolis is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.8 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of 0.6 °C (33 °F) and a maximum of 11.1 °C (51.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9.5 °C (14.5 °F). However, it dropped to -16.7 °C (1.9 °F) in March 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23.5 °C (74 °F). However, it reached 28.9 °C (84 °F) in March 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 95 mm (3.7 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).

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In April, the weather in Indianapolis is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 6.3 °C (43.3 °F) and a maximum of 17.7 °C (63.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (27 °F). However, it dropped to -8 °C (17.6 °F) in April 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (81 °F). However, it reached 30 °C (86 °F) in April 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 110 mm (4.3 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).

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In May, the weather in Indianapolis is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 17.5 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 12.1 °C (53.7 °F) and a maximum of 23 °C (73.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (38 °F). However, it dropped to -2.8 °C (27 °F) in May 2020.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (87 °F). However, it reached 35 °C (95 °F) in May 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 120 mm (4.7 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (10 mph).

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In June, the weather in Indianapolis is usually warm. The average temperature is of 22.5 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 17.2 °C (62.9 °F) and a maximum of 27.8 °C (82 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2.8 °C (37 °F) in June 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (92 °F). However, it reached 40 °C (104 °F) in June 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 125 mm (4.9 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (8 mph).

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In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Indianapolis is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 24.3 °C (76 °F), with a minimum of 19.1 °C (66.4 °F) and a maximum of 29.6 °C (85.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13.5 °C (56 °F). However, it dropped to 8.9 °C (48 °F) in July 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93.5 °F). However, it reached 40.6 °C (105.1 °F) in July 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 110 mm (4.3 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).

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In August, the weather in Indianapolis is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 23.7 °C (75 °F), with a minimum of 18.3 °C (65 °F) and a maximum of 29.1 °C (84.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13 °C (55 °F). However, it dropped to 8 °C (46.4 °F) in August 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92.5 °F). However, it reached 36.7 °C (98.1 °F) in August 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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In September, the weather in Indianapolis is usually warm. The average temperature is of 19.9 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 14.1 °C (57.4 °F) and a maximum of 25.7 °C (78.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6 °C (43 °F). However, it dropped to 0 °C (32 °F) in September 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32.5 °C (91 °F). However, it reached 37.8 °C (100 °F) in September 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In October, the weather in Indianapolis is usually mild. The average temperature is of 13.1 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 7.5 °C (45.5 °F) and a maximum of 18.7 °C (65.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30.5 °F). However, it dropped to -3.9 °C (25 °F) in October 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28.5 °C (83 °F). However, it reached 33.3 °C (91.9 °F) in October 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

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In November, the weather in Indianapolis is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 6.3 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of 1.6 °C (34.9 °F) and a maximum of 11 °C (51.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6.5 °C (20 °F). However, it dropped to -13.3 °C (8.1 °F) in November 2019.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). However, it reached 26.1 °C (79 °F) in November 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

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In December, the weather in Indianapolis is usually cold. The average temperature is of 0.7 °C (33 °F), with a minimum of -3.2 °C (26.2 °F) and a maximum of 4.7 °C (40.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -14 °C (7 °F). However, it dropped to -20.6 °C (-5.1 °F) in December 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16.5 °C (62 °F). However, it reached 22 °C (71.6 °F) in December 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 35% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).