By Andi Anderson
Fall and drought have often gone hand in hand across Indiana in recent years, and 2025 has followed the same pattern.
The September 30 US Drought Monitor, released on October 2, reported that more than 92 percent of Indiana was classified as either abnormally dry (D0) or moderate drought (D1). Several counties also experienced severe (D2) or extreme (D3) drought levels.
The driest stretch of the state lies from Fort Wayne to east of Lafayette, where rainfall totals were more than four inches below normal between August 2 and September 30.
Extreme drought (D3) was reported in parts of Allen and Adams Counties, while severe drought (D2) stretched across much of north-central Indiana. Vermillion and Parke Counties have also dealt with persistent D2 conditions for weeks.
Meanwhile, heavy rains in southern Indiana provided some relief, with several areas improving to D0, also referred to as “no drought.” A year earlier, extreme drought briefly reappeared in the state for the first time since 2012 before rains from Tropical Storm Helene eased conditions in the southeast.
The rapid onset of drought this year began in August. Climate records show that some northern Indiana cities experienced one of their driest late summer periods ever.
Marion recorded only 2.19 inches of rain over two months, the driest August–September in more than 130 years of record-keeping. Fort Wayne saw its fourth driest August–September on record.
Drought impacts have included dried-up crops, dropping leaves, declining streamflows, and shrinking pond levels. Lawns have also gone dormant, offering a small silver lining to homeowners.
Looking ahead, forecasts between October 2 and 9 predict over an inch of rain in many parts of central and eastern Indiana, with some areas expecting up to two inches.
The Climate Prediction Center has raised confidence in above-normal rainfall through mid-October, offering hope for relief from the dry spell.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-zhuda
Categories: Indiana, Weather