Record-breaking April will end on a quiet note

It seems April was a month for the record books, as any record was up for grabs.

Although the month will end on a quiet and somewhat seasonal note, that wasn’t the case for most of the month.

So, what were the records and how do they stack up against other years?

To begin, this April will close out in the Top 10 coldest Aprils ever recorded, with an average temperature less than 50 degrees, roughly 6 degrees colder than an average spring. The last time we saw a cold start to April was in 2007, when the average temperature was near 52 degrees.

While our highs weren’t too terribly cold during the month, although we did have a few days that felt more like January and less like April, the overall drop in temperatures came during the overnight hours. Through April 26th the average overnight temperature was near 37 degrees, enough for the third coldest daily overnight lows for Mid-Missouri.

The biggest record broken during the month of April was the amount of rain that fell across the region. April is known for the phrase “April showers, bring May flowers”. That wasn’t the case this year, as Columbia will close out the month as the driest April ever recorded. Less than half an inch of rain fell across Columbia, with higher amounts reported east of Hwy 63 where more moisture was available.

While April was exceptionally dry, drought conditions aren’t prevalent due to the abnormally wet start to the year that we had. January through March, which all saw above average precipitation compensated for the dry April, which is why many plants and flowers aren’t having a hard time blooming this month.

The good news is plenty of rain is expected in the coming weeks, with the next chance arriving as we head into the first week of May.

So while it’s been a wild and eventful ride for this month, things are looking to shape up to become more seasonal as we head into May. This means an increased chance of severe weather as we head into May. It’s highly important that you make sure you are prepared as we head into the heart of severe weather season. Just because this month was quiet, doesn’t mean the same for May.

Stay with ABC 17 Stormtrack weather as we continue to track more rain in the forecast and follow us on Twitter @ABC17Stormtrack.