Weekend Outlook

Looks like mainly sunny skies with temperatures above normal this weekend (upper 80's to low 90's). Thunderstorm chances begin to rise early next week. Yesterday's forecasts results below:


Thursday
Actual: 87º
WLFI: 89º (+2)
NWS: 83º (-4)
TWC: 85º (-2)
AccuWx: 83º (-4)
MEX MOS: 86º (-1)

7 Day Forecasts For Lafayette

Another round of who will have the best 7 day forecast for Lafayette. To make it simple, I'm only doing high temperatures this time. Forecasts from: WLFI, NWS Indianapolis, Weather.com (TWC), AccuWeather, and I'm adding a computer model to the mix...the GFS MEX MOS. All forecasts from last night.

Thursday
WLFI: 89º
NWS: 83º
TWC: 85º
AccuWx: 83º
MEX MOS: 86º

Friday
WLFI: 89º
NWS: 84º
TWC: 87º
AccuWx: 84º
MEX MOS: 86º

Saturday
WLFI: 91º
NWS: 87º
TWC: 87º
AccuWx: 86º
MEX MOS: 88º

Sunday
WLFI: 92º
NWS: 88º
TWC: 91º
AccuWx: 89º
MEX MOS: 90º

Monday
WLFI: 92º
NWS: 88º
TWC: 86º
AccuWx: 89º
MEX MOS: 91º

Tuesday
WLFI: 92º
NWS: 86º
TWC: 85º
AccuWx: 85º
MEX MOS: 88º

Wednesday
WLFI: 94º
NWS: 85º
TWC: 85º
AccuWx: 84º
MEX MOS: 87º

Normal High Temperatures

I think sometimes people don't know what "it's supposed to be" this time of year. Below are the normal high temperatures for each day of the year at LAF.

LAFAYETTE PURDUE UNIV AP (129424)
Daily Climate Normals
Maximum Temperature (degrees F)
1971-2000

Day     Jan   Feb   Mar   Apr   May   Jun   Jul   Aug   Sep   Oct   Nov   Dec
 1       34    34    44    57    68    79    86    86    82    73    58    44
 2       33    35    44    57    69    80    86    86    82    72    58    43
 3       33    35    45    58    69    80    86    86    82    72    57    43
 4       33    35    45    58    70    80    86    86    81    72    57    42
 5       33    35    46    58    70    81    86    86    81    71    56    42
 6       33    36    46    59    70    81    86    85    81    71    56    41
 7       33    36    46    59    71    81    86    85    81    70    55    41
 8       33    36    47    59    71    81    86    85    81    70    55    41
 9       33    36    47    60    72    82    86    85    80    69    54    40
10       33    37    48    60    72    82    86    85    80    69    54    40
11       33    37    48    61    72    82    86    85    80    68    53    39
12       33    37    49    61    73    82    86    85    80    68    53    39
13       33    38    49    61    73    83    86    85    79    67    52    39
14       32    38    49    62    73    83    87    85    79    67    52    38
15       32    38    50    62    74    83    87    84    79    67    51    38
16       33    39    50    63    74    83    87    84    78    66    51    38
17       33    39    51    63    74    84    87    84    78    66    50    37
18       33    39    51    63    75    84    87    84    78    65    50    37
19       33    40    51    64    75    84    87    84    77    65    49    37
20       33    40    52    64    75    84    87    84    77    64    49    37
21       33    40    52    65    76    84    87    84    77    64    48    36
22       33    41    53    65    76    85    87    83    76    63    48    36
23       33    41    53    65    76    85    86    83    76    63    47    36
24       33    42    54    66    77    85    86    83    76    62    47    35
25       33    42    54    66    77    85    86    83    75    62    47    35
26       33    43    54    66    77    85    86    83    75    61    46    35
27       33    43    55    67    78    85    86    83    74    61    46    35
28       34    43    55    67    78    85    86    83    74    60    45    35
29       34    43    56    68    78    86    86    82    74    60    45    34
30       34     -    56    68    79    86    86    82    73    59    44    34
31       34     -    56     -    79     -    86    82     -    59     -    34

July 5-17, 1936 Heat Wave

75 years ago today, the hottest stretch of temperatures at the West Lafayette COOP began. 13 straight days of the high temperatures of 100º or higher...unequaled through the records at that station.

High temps during that period:
7/5: 104º
7/6: 103º
7/7: 108º
7/8: 109º
7/9: 103º
7/10: 107º
7/11: 108º
7/12: 110º
7/13: 110º
7/14: 111º
7/15: 105º
7/16: 101º
7/17: 103º

Wet Start To Summer

After last night's storms, the total meteorological summer rainfall at LAF is up to 8.72", almost double the normal rainfall to date since June 1st. Here's a look back at some of the wettest starts to met summer (begins June 1st) through July 2nd at the WL COOP (data since 1901):

1) 11.70" - 1958
2) 11.37" - 1902
3) 9.90" - 2010
4) 9.89" - 2004
5) 9.82" - 1928
6) 8.41" - 1998

2.01" of rain was recorded at LAF last night, which makes for the second time this met summer that we've seen a calendar day rainfall amount of 2.00"+. The other one was June 20th with 3.14". So a scan of the records from the WL COOP reveals the other instances of this happening in the June 1st through July 2nd time period:

1902: June 29 (2.56") and June 30 (2.06")
1929: June 12 (3.89") and July 1 (2.59")
1958: June 10 (3.75") and June 13 (2.01")
2004: June 11 (3.19") and June 12 (4.22")

Hot Today With A Chance Of Storms Tonight

Temperatures today will be in the low to mid 90's. Couple that with dewpoints in the 70's, and the Heat Index could exceed 100º. It does look like a one day deal, as a cold front will be coming through the area tonight/overnight. As the front comes through the area, there is a chance of thunderstorms.  Some of those storms could be severe. As usual...stay tuned.

June 2011 Stats At LAF

Average Temperature: 73.1º (+1.5º)
Rainfall: 6.49" (+2.25")

90º+ days: 5
Highest max temperature: 97º on 6/4
Lowest max temperature: 68º on 6/24
Highest min temperature: 73º on 6/7
Lowest min temperature: 53º on 6/12

Greatest single day rainfall: 3.14" on 6/20
Greatest single event rainfall: 3.49" on 6/20-21
Days with 0.01" or more rainfall: 14