South Bend, Indiana Weather
Fireflies rise from the lawn. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
South Bend weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 4Overcast——86°53°—
- FridayJun 5Heavy Rain80%0.72″81°68°-5°
- SaturdayJun 6Light Showers80%—78°66°-3°
- SundayJun 7Overcast14%—84°64°+6°
- MondayJun 8Drizzle16%—81°65°-3°
- TuesdayJun 9Light Drizzle31%—82°64°+1°
- WednesdayJun 10Drizzle22%0.01″79°69°-3°
PM2.5 at 7.5 µg/m³ (AQI 42) with a 0.90 fine-to-coarse ratio and 5 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust. AQI down 22 over the last 6 hours — air quality is improving sharply.
OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
What's driving it
Ozone × UV × Sky
Ozone at AQI 33. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~92%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.
- Present
- AQI 33
- UV peak
- 3.3 at 1 PM
- Sky at peak
- overcast
- Projected peak
- AQI 7
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5 at 7.5 µg/m³ (AQI 42) with a 0.90 fine-to-coarse ratio and 5 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.90
- Wind
- light
- Recent rain
- 0h in last 6h
- Pattern
- stagnant smoke
Trends
Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.
Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
A summer fog for fair, a winter fog for rain.
- Moonrise
- 4:19 AM
- Moonset
- 1:41 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Fireflies rise from the lawn
South Bend at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 16°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: April 26 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: Jun 1–5
- Planting window: Harvest spring lettuce before it bolts. Sow heat-tolerant greens.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of June 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.
SPC Convective Outlook
Storm Prediction Center — South Bend
SPC has placed South Bend in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms tomorrow.
- TODAYNONENo severe risk
- TOMORROWMRGLMarginal Risk
- DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
Isolated severe storms possible. Limited threat for hail or damaging wind.
Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | — | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
July brings South Bend's warmest temperatures (~73°F mean) while January delivers the coldest (~25°F). Rainfall peaks in May (4.3 inches) and drops to its lowest point in February (2.3 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25° | 2.7″ | 9 |
| February | 27° | 2.3″ | 8 |
| March | 37° | 2.4″ | 8 |
| April | 49° | 3.6″ | 12 |
| May | 60° | 4.3″ | 14 |
| June | 70° | 4.2″ | 14 |
| July | 73° | 4.1″ | 14 |
| August | 71° | 4.2″ | 14 |
| September | 65° | 3.7″ | 12 |
| October | 52° | 4.0″ | 13 |
| November | 40° | 2.9″ | 10 |
| December | 30° | 2.4″ | 8 |
Regional context
South Bend belongs to a warm-summer humid continental climate region — part of a group that shares similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions with nearby cities.
Similar climates: Fort Wayne, IN, Elkhart, IN, Hammond, IN, Michigan City, IN, Gary, IN.
Naturalist notes
Late May brings the return of ruby-throated hummingbirds to South Bend's gardens and feeders after their long migration north.
Apple trees typically finish blooming by mid-May, marking the transition from spring's delicate petals to summer's developing fruit.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in South Bend?
- South Bend's last spring frost typically occurs around mid-April, while the first fall frost arrives around mid-November.
- What is the rainy season in South Bend?
- May receives the most rainfall with about 4.3 inches on average; the city gets roughly 41 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in South Bend?
- July typically brings the warmest weather, averaging about 73°F.
- What is the coldest month in South Bend?
- January typically delivers the coldest temperatures, averaging about 25°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in South Bend?
- Cool-season crops (peas, lettuce) can be planted around the last spring frost (mid-April); warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) should wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does South Bend get?
- South Bend experiences about 136 rainy days per year on average.
- What hardiness zone is South Bend?
- South Bend's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperature; check the USDA's online lookup with the city ZIP for the current zone designation.
Climate
South Bend, Indiana experiences a warm-summer humid continental climate zone. January temperatures hover near 25°F while July averages 73°F — a 49°F seasonal swing.
Throughout the year, South Bend receives about 41 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 136 rainy days.
Geography drives the annual rhythm here: latitude (41.7°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation combine to shape what grows, when frost strikes, and the daily weather patterns.