The Hottest Temperature Ever Recorded in Indiana Will Make You Sweat Just Thinking About It

Indiana is known for having a good climate that enables massive agricultural production within the state. Yet, the temperatures can get quite high during the summer. In fact, heat waves are common in this area. However, one day stands above all others in terms of high temperatures. Discover the hottest temperature ever recorded in Indiana and find out how hot it was and when the temperature was recorded!

The Typical Climate in Indiana

Before considering the hottest day in Indiana, it’s important to understand the state’s typical climate. That way, it is possible to contextualize the record-setting day’s heat.

Indiana has two Köppen-Geiger climate classifications. The northern half of the state is considered a hot-summer humid continental climate. The southern portion of the state has a humid subtropical climate. Generally, the winters are cold while summers are hot with more precipitation than the rest of the year.

Temperatures vary quite a bit throughout the year, but the average high temperatures in Indianapolis throughout the summer are:

That does not seem all that hot for the summer months. However, the temperatures in Indiana can skyrocket during some parts of the summer. Heat waves are somewhat common in Indiana, and scientists believe that they will continue to become more common and more intense in the future. With average temperatures projected to reach 5 °F to 6 °F hotter over the next 30 years, the hottest temperature in the state may be topped.

Furthermore, hotter temperatures could cause significant problems with the state’s infrastructure as it tries to keep up with the demand for power to cool homes and businesses.

What Was the Hottest Temperature Ever Recorded in Indiana?

The hottest temperature ever recorded in Indiana was 116 °F, and it was recorded at Collegeville on July 14, 1936. Specifically, the temperature was recorded at the Collegeville St. Joseph County Airport.

The temperature came during an unusually hot summer at the end of the “Dust Bowl” years. About 5,000 people died in July 1936 when a powerful, lasting heat wave struck the Midwest. July 14, 1936, saw many temperature records set across Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, with temperatures reaching from 104 °F to 111 °F.

No temperature has matched this record either. In fact, recent years in Indiana have been somewhat lacking in extreme temperatures in terms of single-day, triple-digit days. Indianapolis, Indiana has not reached over 100 °F in over 10 years. The hottest recorded day there was 103 °F in 2012.

Where Is Collegeville on a Map?

Collegeville, Indiana is in Jasper County, a part of the northwestern area of the state. Interstate 65 runs to the west of Collegeville while Indiana Highway 231 runs through the center of the town. Collegeville does not have all the elements that make an area exceptionally hot during the summer.

For one thing, the climate in the region is considered hot-summer humid continental climate. The hottest places have arid climates that lack moisture in the air.

Another factor that limits the potential for extremely hot weather in this town is its elevation. Lower elevations are conducive to very high temperatures, but this town has an elevation that is 656 feet above sea level. For comparison, the hottest place in the world, Death Valley, has an elevation of -282 feet below sea level. That makes it the lowest point in North America as well as the hottest.

Lastly, this part of the state is surrounded by farmland. There are no major geographical features that would make this area unusually hot. Sometimes, mountains can block moisture from entering an area, allowing the region to become hotter than it would without those features.

How Does Indiana’s Hottest Temperature Compare to the Hottest in the Country?

Indiana’s hottest temperature on record is 18 °F cooler than the highest temperature ever recorded in the United States. On July 10, 1913, Greenland Ranch (now Furnace Creek), California recorded a temperature of 134 °F. This area is located in Death Valley.

Death Valley has a combination of climate, elevation, and geographical features that make it the perfect place for high air temperatures to occur.

This temperature reading is not without controversy, though. Some scientists insist that the air temperature in this area was not correctly taken or that it was the product of abnormalities with the equipment.

For now, though, the World Meteorological Organization accepts this reading as the hottest temperature in the U.S. and the rest of the world!

What Animals Live Near Collegeville, Indiana?

The climate in Collegeville, Indiana area is not adverse to wildlife despite the occasional hot weather. As a result, many different animals thrive in this region. They live on land and in water, and some of them are predators while others are prey. Take a look at some of the many animals that survive in this area.

• Sandhill cranes
• Eastern gray squirrels
• Striped skunks
• Bobcats
• Woodrats
• Raccoons
• Groundhogs
• Feral hogs
• Wild turkeys
• American toads
• Alligator snapping turtles
• Gray rat snakes

These are just some of the common animals that live in this part of Indiana. Clearly, the rare hot weather over 100 °F is not enough to dissuade them from living in the region. When temperatures do skyrocket in this part of Indiana, the animals probably wait out the heat by using some sort of cover. Other than that, these animals are well-adapted to the temperature variations in the region.

The hottest temperature ever recorded in Indiana was only 116 °F. While that is a very hot temperature, it’s not among the highest ever recorded in the country. Still, scientists believe that the future will feature hotter summer temperatures in this state. As a result, temperatures in this range could always appear in the future.