April Weather Brings Everything: Severe Storms, Warmer Temperatures, Snow and Even Tropical Storms

Linda Lam
Published: March 31, 2020

April can bring a variety of weather conditions as winter tries to hang on and temperatures warm up. That collision can result in severe storms and flooding. Tropical storms have even formed in the Atlantic in April.

For those hoping not to experience a repeat of a cold April 2018, the news is good: Persistent cold and snow are not expected this year.

Here's a closer look at what to expect this month.

Warmer Temperatures Finally Emerge

From the beginning to the end of the month, many locations experience a noticeable jump in average temperatures. New York City sees its average high rise from 56 degrees on April 1 to 66 degrees on April 30. The average high in Minneapolis increases from 50 degrees to start the month to 65 degrees to close out April. Average lows here also rise from the lower 30s to the mid-40s during April.

By the end of April, the South, mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley and central Plains have generally experienced their last freeze of the season. Much of the Northeast, upper Midwest and Intermountain West wait until mid-May to see the last freeze.

But not every April is dominated by spring warmth. April 2018 was stubbornly cold east of the Rockies, the 13th-coldest April on record in the contiguous U.S. Iowa and Wisconsin both shivered through their coldest April on record.

This April, most of the country is expected to see near- or above-average temperatures.

(MORE: April 2020 Temperature Outlook)

April 2020 Temperature Outlook

Tornado Risk Increases

As temperatures rise, moisture increases and thunderstorms become more common. The risk of tornadoes also increases as the ingredients for severe weather are more often in place.

Tornado outbreaks often occur when a low-pressure system accompanied by a strong, southward dip in the jet stream punches into the Plains, Midwest or South. In addition, warm and humid air flows northward out of the Gulf of Mexico.

Typical tornado risk in April.

In April, the tornado threat is greatest from southeastern Kansas, Oklahoma and northern Texas eastward into parts of Alabama.

April is typically the third-busiest month for tornadoes, with May and June coming in first and second, respectively. April 2011 set a record for most tornadoes in any month with 758, due in large part to the April 26-28 outbreak.

More Rain Can Lead to Flooding

April can be an active month with low-pressure systems tracking across the U.S.

These can bring rounds of rain, which, when combined with snowmelt due to the warming temperatures, can result in river flooding.

NOAA noted in its spring flood outlook that more widespread flooding is expected in the central and southern U.S.

A separate April precipitation outlook from NOAA indicates that the chance for above-average precipitation is greatest in parts of the Southeast and central U.S.

April 2020 precipitation outlook.

It Can Still Snow

Although temperatures increase in April, snow is still possible, especially in the higher elevations of the West.

There are a few spots where April is the snowiest month. These include Breckenridge, Colorado; Casper, Wyoming; and Mount Rushmore, South Dakota. Denver can also experience some of its heavier snowfalls in April.

The average snowiest month in areas that typically pick up over 3 inches of snow each year, based on 1981-2010 average snowfall data.

In 2018, the record-breaking cold in April helped to set new snow records. In mid-April, Winter Storm Xanto brought 15.8 inches to Minneapolis/St. Paul, making it the heaviest April snowstorm on record there. Xanto was also the heaviest April snowstorm in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where 24.2 inches accumulated and blizzard conditions were observed.

Tropical Storms Can Develop in the Atlantic

Although the Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on June 1, tropical cyclones sometimes develop before then.

Two tropical storms have developed in the Atlantic in April. The first was Ana in 2003, and most recently, Arlene in 2017. A subtropical storm also developed in April 1992.

Tracks of April Atlantic Basin tropical cyclones in records dating to 1851.

Conditions are often not favorable for tropical development in April, but sometimes an area with the right environmental conditions emerges and can result in the formation of a tropical cyclone.

Pre-season tropical systems are frequently lopsided and fairly shallow in height.

There are no Atlantic hurricanes on record during April.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.