Wrapping Up a Warm April

April average temperatures ranged from near normal to more than 6°F above normal.

The Northeast experienced a milder-than-usual April, driven by much-above-normal temperatures mid-month. April average temperatures ranged from near normal in parts of West Virginia, southwestern Pennsylvania, and coastal Maine to more than 6°F warmer than normal in portions of central New York and northern Pennsylvania. At the 35 major climate sites in the Northeast, April average temperatures ranged from 0.2°F above normal in Elkins and Charleston, WV, to 6.3°F above normal in Binghamton, NY. Three sites - Wilmington, DE; Burlington, VT, and Newark, NJ - had their warmest April on record. Meanwhile, this April ranked among the 20 warmest on record for another 28 of the major climate sites.

This April was record warm for three major climate sites and among the 20 warmest for another 28 of the sites.

April precipitation ranged from less than 50% of normal to more than 200% of normal.

The first half of April featured limited precipitation; however, the second half of April was generally wetter, pushing precipitation totals closer to or above normal in some locations. Overall, April precipitation ranged from less than 50% of normal in parts of Maine and West Virginia to more than 200% of normal in parts of Delaware, northern New Jersey, and southeastern New York. April precipitation for the 35 major climate sites ranged from 39% of normal in Caribou, ME, to 214% of normal at LaGuardia Airport, NY, with 24 sites closing out April on the wet side of normal. This April ranked among the 20 driest on record for three major climate sites but among the 20 wettest for 13 of the sites.

This April ranked among the 20 driest on record for three major climate sites but among the 20 wettest for 13 of the sites.

April snowfall ranged from more than 3 inches below normal to near normal.

Snowfall is generally limited in April and this April was no exception, with totals ranging from more than 3 inches below normal to near normal. While 33 of the 35 major climate sites average measurable snow in April, this year only two sites saw it - Caribou, ME and Binghamton, NY, which recorded its ninth least snowy April. Overall, April snowfall ranged from 4.6 inches below normal in Caribou to normal in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, MD.

Only two major climate sites saw measurable snow this April, with Binghamton, NY, having its ninth least snowy April.

For May, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center favors below-normal precipitation for far western New York, portions of western Pennsylvania, and much of West Virginia, with equal chances of below-, near-, or above-normal precipitation forecast for the rest of the Northeast. The May temperature outlooks calls for a tilt toward below-normal temperatures for southwestern Pennsylvania, western Maryland, and much of West Virginia, while above-normal temperatures are favored for far eastern Long Island (NY) and much of New England. Areas in between fall into the equal chances category.

For May, some western parts of the region could be drier than normal, shaded tan in the mp on the left. The southwestern corner of the region, shaded blue in the map on the right, could be cooler than normal in May, while the northeastern corner, shaded orange, could be warmer than normal. Click to enlarge.