Indiana experiences a variety of weather conditions throughout the year including thunderstorms, tornadoes, flash floods, lake effect snow, and blizzards. In the spring and summer, Indiana's weather is influenced by cold air from Canada and warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in hot and humid conditions. Fall is often sunny and mild while winters are generally cloudy and cold, especially near Lake Michigan which causes lower temperatures in those areas. Indiana weather can be unpredictable with both mild and severe weather occurring.

1. Unit 4 Lesson 6 Indiana Weather and Climate
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2. Unit 4 Lesson 6 Indiana Weather and Climate
Indiana Standards
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• 8.2.5 Describe the conditions that cause Indiana
weather and weather-related events such as
tornadoes, lake effect snow, blizzards,
thunderstorms, and flooding.

3. Today’s Forecast: Mixed
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What is the weather like in Indiana?
• Indiana experiences a mix of weather throughout
the year.
• The weather is on most days is relatively mild, but
Indiana can have severe weather any time of
year.
Unit 4 Lesson 6 Indiana Weather and Climate

4. What is the weather like in Indiana?
• Indiana has 30 to 50 thunderstorm days each
year.
• The state has an above-average number of
tornadoes each year. Indiana is the sixth most
tornado-prone state.
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Unit 4 Lesson 6 Indiana Weather and Climate

5. What is the weather like in Indiana?
• A flash flood is a flood that occurs with little or no
warning in which water levels rise rapidly. In
Indiana, flash flooding is most common in late
spring and summer.
• During winter, the area of Indiana that borders
Lake Michigan can experience lake-effect snow.
Lake-effect snow occurs when cold, dry air passes
over a body of water. The air picks up moisture
and then drops it as heavy snowfall.
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Unit 4 Lesson 6 Indiana Weather and Climate

6. What is the weather like in Indiana?
• Indiana can also experience blizzards— winter
storms that product large amounts of snow or
blowing snow with winds of at least 56 kph (35
mph) and low visibility for at least three hours.
• Frostbite and hypothermia are two dangers due to
the strong winds and cold temperatures of
blizzards.
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Unit 4 Lesson 6 Indiana Weather and Climate

7. Spring into Summer
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What is the climate like in Indiana
during spring and summer?
• Indiana has a humid continental climate.
• During spring and summer, Indiana’s weather is
determined by the meeting of cold arctic air from
Canada and warm moist air from the Gulf of
Mexico.
• In Indiana, most precipitation occurs during
spring. Summers can be hot and humid.
Unit 4 Lesson 6 Indiana Weather and Climate

8. What is the climate like in Indiana
during spring and summer?
• This map shows
average July
temperatures in
Indiana. The darker
colors indicate higher
temperatures, while
the lighter colors
indicate cooler
temperatures.
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Unit 4 Lesson 6 Indiana Weather and Climate

9. Fall into Winter
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What is the climate like in Indiana
during fall and winter?
• In Indiana, fall is often sunny and mild.
• Indiana winters are often cloudy and cold.
Unit 4 Lesson 6 Indiana Weather and Climate

10. What is the climate like in Indiana
during fall and winter?
• This map shows
average January
temperatures in
Indiana. The area in
dark purple has lower
average temperatures
than the areas in light
purple.
• What effect does Lake
Michigan have on the
area near Gary and
South Bend?
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Unit 4 Lesson 6 Indiana Weather and Climate