April 22-30, 2024

Above-Normal for Most

Average temperatures were 3-6°F above normal for most of the region (Figure 1). In Minnesota, average temperatures were closer to normal, and even slightly below normal across the Arrowhead Region. The average temperature was 1.4 degrees below normal for Minnesota, as opposed to Ohio where it was 3.3°F above normal.

Minimum temperatures were 1-3°F above normal for most areas (Figure 2). They were actually slightly below normal across the Kentucky Coalfields. A late season freeze occurred for much of the region on the morning of April 25. In Alpena, Michigan, the daily record low of 20°F was tied with the record low set on the exact same day, 9 years earlier—April 25, 2015. By April 27, things were rebounding across the region. Evansville, Indiana had a record high minimum temperature of 71°F on April 27, which was the second warmest minimum temperature ever recorded in April since 1897.

Maximum temperatures were 3-7°F above normal for most of the region, save Minnesota, where some areas observed average maximum temperatures 1-3°F below normal (Figure 3). On April 29, a daily record high maximum temperature of 82°F was set in Mansfield, Ohio, and in Cleveland, Ohio a temperature of 84°F tied the previous daily record maximum set in 1899.

Precipitation/Drought

Precipitation was most abundant across Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Minnesota. Much of Missouri observed over 200 percent of normal precipitation for the week (Figure 4). Nevada, Missouri, an NWS COOP site with over 100 years of records, received 10.18 inches of precipitation for the month, making it the 6th wettest April on record. In Kirksville, Missouri, where records have been kept since 1893, there was over 7.85 inches of precipitation in April, making it the wettest April on record in that location. It was also the wettest April on record in Toledo, Ohio, in over 150 years of records, with over 6.68 inches of precipitation there.

Significant drought removal was noted as a result of April’s heavy rains. By April 30, abnormally dry conditions covered just 34 percent of the region, as opposed to 62 percent on April 2. D4 was nearly eliminated from Iowa at the end of the period, and drought no longer existed at all in Indiana as of the April 30 update (Figure 5).

Severe Weather

There were 243 storm reports this week, with hail leading the way at 99 reports, followed closely by 77 tornado reports (Figure 6). There were also 50 wind reports, 12 large hail reports and 5 high wind reports. Most storm reports occurred due to specific events in Iowa and Missouri. Most of the reported tornadoes occurred from an event on April 26 that swept across the Plains. An EF-3 tornado with winds of 165 mph passed through the northwest suburbs of Omaha, spending over 30 miles on the ground before dissipating in Iowa. Another EF-3 tornado with winds of 152 mph touched down on Eppley Airfield before crossing into Iowa and causing some damage in Crescent, Iowa. Yet another EF-3 tornado—this one with winds of 160 mph—formed in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, staying on the ground for 40 miles and causing extensive property damage in rural Pottawattamie and Shelby counties in Iowa.

There were some tornadoes in Missouri on the same day, although none rose above EF-0 or EF-U strength. On April 27, an EF-1 tornado with 90 mph winds spent 11 miles on the ground in Gentry County, Missouri, knocking over a tractor-trailer and causing barn damage before lifting in neighboring Harrison County, Missouri.

As for hail, there was lots of it. On April 28, there was a report of 2-inch hail in Manistee County, Michigan, which ultimately caused damage to vehicles and home siding. On April 30, significant damage to a police patrol car was reported due to hail in Holt County, Missouri. A social media report of baseball size hail damaging a car windshield was also confirmed in Holt County.