By Chuck Otte
Geary County Extension Agent Retired
Like March, April had above normal temperatures. Unlike March, we also had above average rainfall. Fortunately!The average daily high in April was 67.7, 1.9 degrees above normal. The average overnight low was 48.2, 5.6 degrees above normal. This gave us a monthly mean temperature of 57.9, 3.7 degrees above normal. Fortunately, this was not close to record warm territory!
The highest temperature for April was 88 degrees on the 17th. The coldest temperature was 32 degrees on April 5th, 6th, and 7th. Barring an unusually cold snap in early May, that means that April 7th was our last “freeze” of the season and marks the start of the growing season, which is about one week ahead of the 30-year average last frost. There was only one temperature record set during April. The overnight low of 64 on the 17th set a new record high low temperature for that date. The old record was 59 set in 2015. The warmest April on record was in 1955 with a monthly mean temperature of 63.2. The coldest April was 1983 with a monthly mean temperature of 45.9 degrees. While April was in no way exceptional in daily or average temperatures, it should be noted that average overnight low temperatures continue to routinely be well above the long term average.
While rainfall was sporadic at times, it was reassuring to have a month with above average rainfall. Average April rainfall is 3.15 inches. Officially we received 4.50 inches. This brought our year to date total up to 7.08 inches, just slightly above the average year to date total of 6.98, erasing the precipitation deficits of February and March. The heaviest rainfall occurred at the state of the month and the end of the month with the weeks in between being somewhat scant! The wettest April was in 1944 when 12.59 inches flooded the region. The driest April was in 1989 when a mere 0.36 inches was all that could be managed.
May brings spring weather to its full potential and occasionally a hint of summer as well! It is also our wettest month of the year. Average daily highs in May range from 70 on May Day to 80 by the end of the month. Overnight lows range from 49 on the 1st to 60 by the 31st. Long term average rainfall is 5.14 inches. Residents should be aware, however, that the precipitation often comes with severe, even tornadic thunderstorms so please listen to local radio broadcasts and National Weather Service weather radio broadcasts in times of potentially severe thunderstorms!