October 2010 continued the trend of warmer and drier than normal weather
that has prevailed since July. Many locations received less than 2 inches of rainfall. Drought conditions and fire activity worsened during the month. Monthly precipitiation totals ranged from less than 0.50 inches in portions of central Indiana to 3.50 inches near Lake Michigan in northwest Indiana. This was 10% of normal in portions of central Indiana to 125% of normal in portions of northwest and east central Indiana. Nearly one-half of the state received less than an inch of rain during October.
Drought conditions gradually deteriorated during October. The National Drought Monitor for October 5 indicated nearly 50% of the Indiana with moderate (D1) to severe (D2) drought conditions. By the end of October, moderate (D1) to extreme (D3) drought conditions had spread to nearly all of the state. The National Drought Monitor for November 2nd indicated that virtually all of Indiana south of U.S. Highway 36 was in severe (D2) to extreme (D3) drought. Extreme (D3) drought conditions prevailed in much of south central Indiana. Here are some of the impacts of the drought.
Here are some of the agricultural impacts this month. The Indiana Weekly Crop Progress and Condition Report released on November 1st indicated that 98% of the corn and soybean acreage had been harvested (record harvest pace). Soils remained very dry with 93% of the top soil and sub soil moisture rated short to very short. Only 3% of the pastures statewide were rated good. Thirty percent of the winter wheat was rated poor to very poor. Farmers were concerned about possible hay shortages during the winter because of poor pasture conditions. Farmers in several areas of southern Indiana continued to haul water to livestock because local springs and streams had gone dry.
Here are some of the water utilities impacts. Southern Indiana's persistent dry spell prompted state officials to ask companies and others in the area that use large volumes of water to voluntarily reduce usage by 10 to 15 percent. Indiana Department of Environmental Management reported a few limited water supply problems in southern Indiana that affected one local business and a small water utility. The agency also reported water levels in wells, lakes and streams lower than normal in southern Indiana.
Here are some of the impacts associated with fires and fire concerns throughout the month. The drought conditions led to numerous field fires Indiana. Large field fires were noted on the 9th, 10th, 20th, 22nd, 23rd and 27th. These fires coincided with warm temperatures, low relative humidity values and moderate to strong winds. Indiana Forestry indicated high fire danger for much of south central Indiana including the counties of Owen, Greene, Martin, Lawrence, Brown, Monroe, Johnson, Morgan, Jackson, Bartholomew, Jennings, Orange, Washington, Scott, Clark, Crawford, Harrison and Perry. Conditions for problematic fires existed in roughly three-quarters of the state. During the first 3 weeks of October, fire activity was well above normal and was comparable to the fire season of 1999 and at times the record fire season of 1988. Fire activity transitioned from field fires in central Indiana to timber fires in southern Indiana during the last week of October. Timber fires were the worst since the record fire season of 1988. At one point in October, burning bans existed for more than 75% of Indiana���s counties. With the arrival of cooler temperatures and some rainfall near the end of the month, burning bans existed in only 55% of the Indiana counties at the beginning of November.
Here are some of the hydrologic impacts for the month. During October, stream flow continued to slowly diminish. At the end of October, U.S. Geological Survey gauging sites indicated several small watersheds at or near daily record low flow in Indiana. Consequently, the flow in the White, East Fork White and Wabash Rivers was below normal. The lowest river flow, when compared to normal, was in southwest Indiana. In central Indiana, all Indianapolis water supply reservoirs and Monroe Lake ranged from 2 to 4.5 feet below normal lake levels.

Drought in HANCOCK, INDIANA
From 01-OCT-10 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

On October 19th, the U.S. Drought Monitor placed southern portions of Hancock County under a Severe (D2) Drought designation.  A countywide burn ban was also in effect.  This lasted through the end of the month of October.

Drought in DAVIESS, INDIANA
From 01-OCT-10 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

On October 12th, the U.S. Drought Monitor placed the eastern half of Daviess County under a Severe (D2) Drought designation.  A countywide burn ban was also in effect.  This lasted through the end of the month of October.

Drought in GREENE, INDIANA
From 01-OCT-10 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

On October 12th, the U.S. Drought Monitor placed the eastern half of Greene County under a Severe (D2) Drought designation.  A countywide burn ban was also in effect.  This lasted through the end of the month of October.

Drought in OWEN, INDIANA
From 01-OCT-10 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

On October 12th, the U.S. Drought Monitor placed a portion of southeastern Owen County under a Severe (D2) Drought designation.  Then it was expanded to cover most of Owen County a week later.  A countywide burn ban was also in effect.  This lasted through the end of the month of October.

Drought in MORGAN, INDIANA
From 01-OCT-10 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

On October 12th, the U.S. Drought Monitor placed most of Morgan County under a Severe (D2) Drought designation.  Then it was expanded to cover all of Morgan County a week later.  A countywide burn ban was also in effect.  This lasted through the end of the month of October.

Drought in MONROE, INDIANA
From 01-OCT-10 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

On October 12th, the U.S. Drought Monitor placed all of Monroe County under an Severe (D2) Drought designation.  This is an increase in county coverage from the previous week and month's designation.  A countywide burn ban was also in effect.  This lasted through the end of the month of October.

Drought in BROWN, INDIANA
From 01-OCT-10 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

On October 12th, the U.S. Drought Monitor placed all of Brown County under an Severe (D2) Drought designation.  This is an increase in county coverage from the previous week and month's designation.  A countywide burn ban was also in effect.  This lasted through the end of the month of October.

Drought in DECATUR, INDIANA
From 01-OCT-10 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

On October 12th, the U.S. Drought Monitor placed all of Decatur County under an Severe (D2) Drought designation.  This is an increase in county coverage from the previous week and month's designation.  A countywide burn ban was also in effect.  This lasted through the end of the month of October.

Drought in JOHNSON, INDIANA
From 01-OCT-10 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

On October 12th, the U.S. Drought Monitor placed all of Johnson County under a Severe (D2) Drought designation.  A countywide burn ban was also in effect.  This lasted through the end of the month of October.

Drought in SHELBY, INDIANA
From 01-OCT-10 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

On October 12th, the U.S. Drought Monitor placed all of Shelby County under a Severe (D2) Drought designation.  A countywide burn ban was also in effect.  This lasted through the end of the month of October.

Drought in LAWRENCE, INDIANA
From 01-OCT-10 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

On October 12th, the U.S. Drought Monitor placed the eastern half of Lawrence County under an Extreme (D3) Drought designation.  This is an increase in intensity from the previous week's designation.  The remainder of the county remained at Severe (D2) from the previous month.  A countywide burn ban was also in effect.  This lasted through the end of the month of October.

Drought in JENNINGS, INDIANA
From 01-OCT-10 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

On October 12th, the U.S. Drought Monitor placed the western half of Jennings County under an Extreme (D3) Drought designation.  This is an increase in intensity from the previous week's designation.  The remainder of the county remained at Severe (D2) from the previous month.  A countywide burn ban was also in effect.  This lasted through the end of the month of October.

Drought in BARTHOLOMEW, INDIANA
From 01-OCT-10 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

On October 12th, the U.S. Drought Monitor placed a far southern sliver of Bartholomew County under an Extreme (D3) Drought designation.  This is an increase in intensity from the previous week's designation.  The remainder of the county remained at Severe (D2) from the previous month.  A countywide burn ban was also in effect.  This lasted through the end of the month of October.

Drought in JACKSON, INDIANA
From 01-OCT-10 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

On October 12th, the U.S. Drought Monitor placed most of Jackson County under an Extreme (D3) Drought designation.  This is an increase in intensity from the previous week's designation.  The remainder of the county remained at Severe (D2) from the previous month.  A countywide burn ban was also in effect.  This lasted through the end of the month of October.

Drought in MARTIN, INDIANA
From 01-OCT-10 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

On October 12th, the U.S. Drought Monitor placed all of Martin County under an Severe (D2) Drought designation.  This is an increase in county coverage from the previous week and month's designation.  A countywide burn ban was also in effect.  This lasted through the end of the month of October.

Drought in PUTNAM, INDIANA
From 01-OCT-10 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

On October 19th, the U.S. Drought Monitor placed the southeast quarter of Putnam County under a Severe (D2) Drought designation.  A countywide burn ban was also in effect.  This lasted through the end of the month of October.

Drought in HENDRICKS, INDIANA
From 01-OCT-10 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

On October 19th, the U.S. Drought Monitor placed southern portions of Hendricks County under a Severe (D2) Drought designation.  A countywide burn ban was also in effect.  This lasted through the end of the month of October.

Drought in MARION, INDIANA
From 01-OCT-10 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

On October 19th, the U.S. Drought Monitor placed southern portions of Marion County under a Severe (D2) Drought designation.  A countywide burn ban was also in effect.  This lasted through the end of the month of October.

Drought in RUSH, INDIANA
From 01-OCT-10 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

On October 12th, the U.S. Drought Monitor placed a large majority of Rush County under a Severe (D2) Drought designation.  A countywide burn ban was also in effect.  This lasted through the end of the month of October.