By Chuck Otte
County Extension Agent, Retired
The Junction City region was on track to repeat the last two months of above average temperatures and below average rainfall until the last week of April provided almost the entire month’s worth of rainfall. Temperatures were still well above average, but rainfall was about 120% of normal.
The average daily high for April was 71.3, 5.5 degrees above normal. The average overnight low was 48.2, 5.6 degrees above normal. This resulted in a monthly mean temperature of 59.8, 5.6 degrees above long term average. The 59.8 monthly mean temperature tied 2024 with 1965 for the sixth warmest April on record. The hottest April on record was in 1955 with a toasty 63.2 degree monthly mean temperature. The coldest April on record was in 1983 with a monthly mean temperature of 45.9.
For the second month in a row, there were no high or low temperature records set. The highest temperature for the month was the afternoon high of 89 on the 13th. The lowest temperature was the morning low of 34 on the 5th. While the region has an average last frost date (latest temperature of 32 degrees, or colder, in the spring) of April 14th, the last time the area saw a freezing temperature was the morning of March 27th when the temperature was 20 degrees. The latest that the area has ever seen a spring freezing temperature is May 14th (1953). Since 1950 we have only seen a May last freeze on 9 occasions. The most recent was May 4, 2008. We have more than likely seen the last freeze for the spring.
April usually brings us increasing rainfall as we move into the wettest time of the year. Long term average rainfall for April is 3.15 inches. For the first 25 days of the month we were staring at a paltry 0.86 inches of rain. The last five days of April made up the difference however, coming through with just under 3 inches of rain. Total April rainfall was 3.83 inches. The wettest April was in 1944 when 12.59 inches of rain drenched the area. The driest April on record was in 1989 when 0.36 inches was all that the area received. Average annual rainfall, through the end of April, is 6.98 inches. So far in 2024, in the same period, we have received 7.17 inches so just slightly above normal. The heavy late April rainfall helped to restore needed soil moisture for spring plant growth and put waters back in ponds for cattle that are heading out to summer pasture.
No measurable snowfall was recorded in April and while May has a long term average snowfall of one tenth of an inch, our 2023/24 snow season is likely over. Average seasonal snowfall is 18 inches. While recent winters have been quite lacking in snow, we nearly made average this season with 17.5 inches recorded from October 1 thru April 30.May truly brings spring into full bloom. It is our wettest month of the year with long term average May rainfall of 5.14 inches. Daily high temperatures start the month at 70 and are up to 80 by the end of the month. Overnight lows on May Day are 49 and by the 31st we’re up to 59 degrees.
( Cover Photo - Pixabay )