A month by month list for Fort Wayne homes, based on local normals: a median last freeze around April 24, snow into March, wet May and June, and leaf pickup in November.
In Fort Wayne the median last spring freeze falls around April 24 and the median first fall freeze around October 21, leaving a freeze-free season of about 178 days. That leaves a long stretch of the year with the house closed up, and a shorter one for outdoor jobs. Here is a month by month list that respects both. Treat it as a guide, because Indiana weather rarely follows a script.
January averages 25.5 degrees with a normal low of 18.4, and normal snowfall is 10.8 inches that month. July is the warmest month, with a normal high of 84.1 degrees. Annual precipitation at the airport is 39.48 inches, peaking in May at 4.58 and June at 4.48.
Average dew points run from about 20 degrees in January to about 63 in July. It is one reason an Indiana house goes from static and dust in winter to damp basements in summer.
January. The coldest and snowiest month. Wash entry mats often and clean up salt on floors before it dries. Change furnace filters, and vacuum vent covers. This is a good month for closets and basement shelves.
February. Normal snowfall is 7.8 inches. Keep up with the entry, wipe down electronics and screens, and go through what is under the sinks. Take any old household chemicals to the county facility on Carroll Road, open on Tuesdays.
March. The thaw month, averaging 38.6 degrees with 4.6 inches of snow still likely. Mud starts now. Set out a boot tray, and check basement corners for damp as the ground softens.
April. The median last freeze falls around April 24, and precipitation jumps to 3.74 inches. Wash windows and screens late in the month, and move a load of spring leaves to the Biosolids Facility on Lake Avenue, because they may not go in the garbage cart.
May. The wettest month, at 4.58 inches. Floors take a beating. A One-Time Deep Clean works well around now, since the furnace season is finished and the home has a full winter's dust in it.
June. Almost as wet, at 4.48 inches. The June 29, 2012 derecho brought a 91 mph gust at the airport, so it is a good month to check your emergency supplies and clear loose items from the yard.
July. The warmest month, with a normal high of 84.1 degrees and a dew point of about 63. Run a dehumidifier in the basement if you have one, and clean bathroom fans. Air conditioning filters could use attention, too.
August. Dew points stay around 62. Wash bath mats and shower curtains, and check for musty closets. It is a pleasant month for outdoor jobs such as cleaning porch furniture and garage floors.
September. A good time to tackle a garage or a shed before the weather turns. Sort out what needs a bulk pickup, then schedule it through 311 at least two business days before garbage day.
October. The median first freeze falls around October 21. Clean and store outdoor cushions, and have the furnace serviced. Wipe down vent covers before heat season starts. In Huntertown, the town's fall bulk pickup runs by zone over one week this month.
November. Fall leaf collection by the Street Department runs through November and December. Keep leaves out of garbage carts and shake out mats often. This is also a good time for a deep clean before holiday cooking.
December. Normal snowfall is 7.6 inches. Set up the mudroom or back door for the season, and clean oven racks and the range hood before you host. A Recurring House Clean can keep the regular work moving while you do the rest.
Fort Wayne has real weather history. In the winter of the Blizzard of 1978 the city recorded 60.6 inches of snow, and the 2012 derecho brought widespread 80 to 90 mph winds to the metro area. Most years are nowhere near that, but a basic kit, a charged phone and clear walkways cost very little. The city also runs an early flood warning system and maintains 12.3 miles of flood control structures.
The questions Fort Wayne homeowners ask most often about this topic, answered plainly.
TotalCare Cleaning will service Fort Wayne and surrounding areas with background-checked cleaners and is insured up to $1 million. Re-clean guarantee: if we missed something, tell us by the end of the next day and we come back to fix it. Beyond Clean. TotalCare.
