April's Ups and Downs in the Midwest

Indianapolis Area

April 2022 was cooler than normal month (-2.1 degree departure) for the region with precipitation coming in just around normal (4.42”). With the below normal temperatures, snowfall was ever so slightly above normal, as 1" reported at the Indianapolis International. Considering April only typically produces 0.8" on average, it doesn't take much to top average during the month.

April started off rather cool and a bit unsettled, with light rain changing to a mix of rain and snow on the 1^st. Temperatures quickly rose behind this system, with highs climbing well into the upper 50s and even into the lower 60s. The next several days were characterized by frequent light rain showers and even a brief period of light snow, along with some sleet on the 8^th and into the 9^th. However, there was very little in the way of actual accumulation reported form this system.

The middle of the month saw a rather significant warmup as temperatures rose into the mid to upper 60s on the 10^th and 13^th. Additionally, several rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms pushed through the area, which resulted in some damaging wind reports, mainly to the south of Indianapolis. Conditions then quickly flipped to much cooler weather, with even an unusual late season snowstorm moving in on the 18^th. Around 0.5 - 1.5" of snow was reported, with the highest amounts north of the Indianapolis metro area.

Central Indiana rounded out the month with generally warmer than average temperatures starting on the 19^th. Highs shot up well into the 70s and eventually into the lower to middle 80s on the 22^nd and into the 24^th. Warm temperatures continued into the final days of the month as highs remained in the 70s. Showers and some locally strong thunderstorms accompanied this period of warmer weather, with some of the storms producing strong winds and small hail.  

 

Ohio

April was cooler than normal and rather dry month across the bulk of the area. Cincinnati had an average temperature of around 52.1 degrees (-2.5 below normal). Columbus had an average temperature of 50.5 degrees (-2.7 degrees). Lastly, Dayton saw an average temperature of 50.8 degrees (-2.9 degrees). All three cities saw precipitation around an inch or so below average.

Virtually every day of the first ten or so days of the month was below normal thanks to persistent cool air locked in across much of the Ohio Valley. In fact, this contributed to several instances of snow and sleet across the region, but very little in the way of actual accumulations. There were even a few reports of graupel (snow pellets) and thunder due to the unusually cold air aloft. However, the first half of the month ended with a rather substantial warming trend as highs rose into the upper 60s and 70s. A few rounds of showers and thunderstorms moved through on the 12^th and 13^th, with a daily rainfall record set in Dayton of around 1.15".

There was a bit of a cool down on the 14^th that lasted through the 16^th as a pair of cold fronts moved across the area. The chilly air that followed these fronts contributed to an unusually late season snowstorm on the 18^th and into the 19^th. Generally, a coating - 1.0" was reported, however, a bit more fell near Dayton with 1 - 2" observed. 

There were several temperature swings during the last week or so of April, which were also accompanied by some rather active weather. Highs rose into the 80s on the 23^rd and 24^th before a cold front blasted through on the 25^th. This front brought a bout of heavy rainfall and locally damaging wind gusts around the Columbus area. Highs then proceeded to fall an impressive 10-15 below normal on the 26^th and 27^th, which was then followed by a quick rebound to above normal temperatures during the final few days of the month.

 

Chicago Area

April was generally cooler than normal in the Chicago area, with the average temperature 47.0 degrees for the month (2.7 degrees below normal). Additionally, it was a rather active month in terms of precipitation, with 5.31" of rain falling (1.56" above normal). Snowfall for the month was around half an inch falling (around an inch or so below normal).

Northern Illinois started off the month on a cool note as periods of light snow and snow showers produced some minor accumulation across the area. Another round of snow moved through on the 2^nd, with coatings near Chicago Metro and up to 3" northwest to Rockford and the Wisconsin border. Conditions then warmed up quite a bit, with highs reaching into the 50s. However, a cool down followed once again with a weak area of low pressure and light rain/snow showers on the 8th, which marked the 11th consecutive day that Chicago recorded at least a trace of precipitation.

A more pronounced warming trend then began on the 10^th and into the 12^th when highs rose into the low 70s with increased humidity. Strong winds from a large and impressive area of low pressure brought several reports of damage to the area, with O'Hare and Midway Airports recording a peak gust of 59 mph on the 14^th. Temperatures then quickly fell back into the 40s and 50s during the middle of the month.