CLIMATE
Putnam County experiences a temperate climate with generally mild winters and moderately humid summers. Cold weather comes mostly from the northwest, originating in western Canada, while heat and humidity come from Gulf-coast air masses. Prevailing winds during the summer months are from the southwest; prevailing winds in the winter are from the northwest.
Putnam County is near the boarder of North American Agricultural Zones 5 and 6. The Zone 6 hardiness band, in which Greencastle is located, is hardy for most common North American fruit, shrubs, and ornamentals. The growing season is 175 days.
Temperature:
Minimum Average: 18EF in January
Maximum Average: 86EF in July
Precipitation:
Average Annual: 44.2 inches / 112.3 cm
Snow/Sleet:
Average Annual: 26.7 inches / 67.8 cm
Cooling Degree Days:
Annual (65EF Base): 1,066
Heating Degree Days:
Annual (65EF Base): 5,568
Percentage of Available Sunshine:
January & December: Approx. 40%
June, July, August & September: Approx. 70%
See tables below for additional details.
Source: Data based on Station ID: 123513 - Greencastle 3 SW 30 Year Normals - 1971 to 2000. The next update of 30 Year Normals will be 1981 to 2
Indiana State Climate Office at Purdue University
www.iclimate.org
Last Updated: November 2009
30 Year Normals - 1971 to 2000
Station: Greencastle 3 SW
Station ID: 123513
|
Period
|
Precipitation
|
Maximum Temperature
|
Mean
Temperature
|
Minimum
Temperature
|
HDD
|
CDD
|
GDD
|
|
|
(Inches/CM)
|
(degF)
|
(degF)
|
(degF)
|
(degF)
|
(degF)
|
(degF)
|
|
January
|
2.40 / 6.1
|
34
|
26
|
18
|
1214
|
0
|
0
|
|
February
|
2.50 / 6.4
|
40
|
31
|
22
|
953
|
0
|
0
|
|
March
|
3.60 / 9.1
|
51
|
41
|
32
|
738
|
0
|
0
|
|
April
|
3.80 / 9.7
|
63
|
52
|
42
|
386
|
5
|
6
|
|
May
|
4.80 / 12.2
|
74
|
63
|
52
|
157
|
94
|
13
|
|
June
|
4.30 / 10.9
|
82
|
72
|
61
|
13
|
221
|
22
|
|
July
|
5.10 / 13.0
|
86
|
75
|
65
|
0
|
325
|
25
|
|
August
|
4.20 / 10.7
|
84
|
74
|
63
|
0
|
280
|
24
|
|
September
|
3.30 / 8.4
|
78
|
67
|
56
|
64
|
122
|
17
|
|
October
|
3.30 / 8.4
|
66
|
55
|
44
|
325
|
19
|
8
|
|
November
|
4.00 / 10.2
|
52
|
43
|
34
|
663
|
0
|
1
|
|
December
|
3.10 / 7.9
|
39
|
31
|
23
|
1055
|
0
|
0
|
Notes: HDD - Heating Degree Days
CDD - Cooling Degree Days
GDD - Growing Degree Days
degF - Degrees Fahrenheit
CM - Centimeter
Source: Data based on Station ID: 123513 - Greencastle 3 SW
30 Year Normals - 1971 to 2000. The next update of 30 Year Normals will be 1981 to 2010.
Indiana State Climate Office at Purdue University
www.iclimate.org
Last Updated: November 2009
Snowfall Averages - Winters of 1973/1974 to 2002/2003
|
|
Average per Month
|
|
October
|
0.17 inches / 0.43 cm
|
|
November
|
1.28 inches / 3.25 cm
|
|
December
|
6.17 inches / 15.67 cm
|
|
January
|
9.22 inches / 23.42 cm
|
|
February
|
6.26 inches / 15.90 cm
|
|
March
|
3.22 inches / 8.18 cm
|
|
April
|
0.37 inches / 0.94 cm
|
|
|
|
|
Average Annual Snowfall
|
26.7 inches / 67.8 cm
|
|
Highest Winter Snowfall
|
62.1 inches / 157.7 cm in 1977/1978
|
|
Lowest Winter Snowfall
|
6.0 inches / 15.2 cm in 2001/2002
|
Source: Indiana State Climate Office at Purdue University
www.iclimate.org
Last Updated: November 2009