What to expect of weather for Super Bowl week? Look at history
January 27, 2012
The Indiana State Climate Office, based at Purdue University, has prepared a website of historical weather statistics for Indianapolis from Jan. 30 to Feb. 5 going back to 1943, the earliest year for which data were available. The site, called "Super Five of February 5," is at http://iclimate.org/centralindiana.asp
The site is named "Super Five" because it includes the five years that had the most extreme weather on Feb. 5. The warmest high temperature on that date was 65 degrees Fahrenheit in 2008; the lowest cold temperature was minus-16 degrees in 1979.
Using the last 10 years of weather data as a benchmark, those walking the downtown streets from event to event could expect a daily high temperature of about 39 degrees and a nighttime low near 22, according to the office's analysis of the statistics.
Snowfall the past 10 years during that week in Indianapolis has ranged from zero to 5.3 inches, with an average of 2.1 inches. The most snow cover was 8.3 inches in 2009, but about 1.8 inches of snow on the ground is normal for the week.
The temperature and precipitation won't matter much to the fans once they arrive at Lucas Oil Stadium to see the game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. It will be played indoors, where the forecast is for short-sleeve temperatures and dry conditions, except for the moment when the tub of icy Gatorade is dumped on the winning coach.
Writer: Keith Robinson, 765-494-2722, robins89@purdue.edu
Sources: Dev Niyogi, state climatologist, 765 494-6574, climate@purdue.edu
Ken Scheeringa, associate state climatologist, 765-494-8105, kens@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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