Chicago
Warmer-than-normal temperatures remained the case in April as Chicago ended with an overall average temperature of 52.7°F (+3.0°F normal). Unlike other locales discussed below, Chicago's precipitation fell a tad below normal this month with 3.47" (normally 3.75"). An early back-end snow event brought minor accumulations to the region (Chicago itself had only a trace), which fell short of the normal 1.3" in April.
The month started off on the wet side with a system bringing rain across the region. Temperatures were on the cool side, with highs in the 40s. Cooler air filtered in on the backside of the storm, allowing for precipitation to transition over to snow. Downtown Chicago had an unmeasurable amount of snow, whereas some northwest suburbs, particularly near the Wisconsin managed to get about an inch.
Temperatures warmed through the remainder of the first week, rising to the 50s. After some storms on the 7th, the warming trend continued with highs into the 60s and 70s. A drier trend followed suit, only to be broken by some scattered storms on the 12th. The warmest high occurred on both the 14th and 16th at 81°F.
Unsettled weather brought instances of storms the 16th - 18th. Cooler temperatures followed in wake of the last of these systems, cooling highs to the 40s and 50s.
Milder conditions settled in starting on the 26th as batches of rain and sub-severe storms worked through the area. Storms returned both the 27th and 28th with highs warming to the 70s. In a short 6 hour window the morning of the 29th a narrow swath of 1 - 1.5" of rain fell just south of Downtown, helping to cement the day as the month's wettest day (O'Hare measured 0.66"). Over the two days ending on the 29th, much of the region saw over an inch, with Romeoville measuring 4.03".
48-hour rainfall totals across the region ending April 29th. Swath of heavier rainfall spanned southern suburbs and into Chicago metro. Courtesy of NWS Chicago.
Outside of passing shower on the 30th, the month ended on a drier note with highs holding in the 70s.
Indianapolis
April was a much wetter month than average, with the month's 7.77" well exceeding the normal 4.34" seen. Temperatures, too, ran above normal, with the average temperature of 56.1°F trending 2.5°F above normal. Snowfall too, which still averages about 0.2" in normal seasons, was unmeasurable following a snow shower at the start of the month.
An active weather pattern welcomed in the month with repeated instances of storms and downpours afflicting the Indianapolis region. Highs started off in the 60s initially, rising to 70 on the 2nd before much cooler air filtered, reducing highs to the 40s with this cooler spell persisting for several days. While conditions were on the cooler side, quieter weather settled in.
Heading into the second week, temperatures starting to warm with pleasant conditions around for the solar eclipse on the 8th. With the city right in the path of totality, the weather supported the opportunity to see this rare event. A more organized rainmaker arrived on the 10th and stayed into the 11th, with the latter seeing 1.70", making it the rainiest day of the month. After peaking around 70, temperatures returned to 60s during these two unsettled days. This cooldown was brief, however, for highs climbed during a more quieter period that stretched into the middle of the month. Highs reached the 80s with a high of 82°F on the 15th marking the warmest day of the month.
Total solar eclipse here at the Indianapolis Forecast Office! Check out the stunning 360 degrees sunset during totality. Show us your eclipse pics from today! #inwx #Eclipse2024 pic.twitter.com/LATGGklxHx
— NWS Indianapolis (@NWSIndianapolis) April 8, 2024
View of the solar eclipse on the 8th at the NWS Indianapolis office.
The latter half of the month brought more frequent shower and storm events, with the 16th and 18th each featuring some form of showers or storms in the area. A decaying line of storms swept through the city the night of the 18th, and while it didn't produce much in the way of severe weather, it cooled temperatures considerably from the 70s before the event to the 50s the day after.
Showers on the 23rd were followed by another warming trend that brough highs more consistently into the 70s to near 80. After showers and storms brought some unsettled days on the 27th and 29th, the month closed on a quieter note with pleasant temperatures.
Ohio
Similar to Indiana, Ohio also saw precipitation fall above normal for the month of April, with monthly measurements reporting as follows: Columbus: 5.87” (normal 3.85”); Dayton: 4.74” (normal 4.46”); Cincinnati: 4.95” (normal 4.53”). Temperatures, too, were above normal, with Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati having average temperatures of 57.0°F (+3.8°F), 56.9°F (+3.2°F), and 57.4°F (+2.8°F), respectively. All three cities typically see about 0.5" of snow in April, however this month only produce an unmeasurable amount at the start of the month.
A rainy set up opened the month up as temperatures were in the 60s to 70s across the region. While some storms were strong to severe, the amount of rain was the bigger story as all three cities reported their rainiest day of the month on the 2nd (Columbus measured 2.05", Dayton 1.34", and Cincinnati 1.68"). Once unsettled weather tapered off heading into the 3rd, cooler conditions arrived with highs struggling to rise out of the 40s for a few days and the 50s the remainder of the week.
Some showers returned to the area starting on the 7th, and while each subsequent day brought some returning activity, the solar eclipse on the 8th occurred during a more favorable time allowing for better views of the event. Temperatures warmed back to the 60s and later 70s through this period.
After another showery / stormy period the 10th - 12th, a warming trend continued with the middle of the month providing the warmest days of April. A high on the 15th of 85°F in Cincinnati broke that day's record high of 84°F that was set in 1976. Dayton and Columbus had their warmest high the subsequent day, reaching 85°F and 84°F, respectively.
Stormy conditions returned the 17th and 18th, with the latter seeing a cluster of storms work through the region. Some returning rain was sprinkled in through the second half of the month on the 23rd and again the 26th to 27th.
Closing out the month, warmer temperatures became the norm with more consistent highs in the 70s and 80s. While Columbus missed out on a late-month rain event, both Cincinnati and Dayton saw washouts on the 30th.
