April 2022 Climate Summary

Temperature

During April 2022, average temperatures ranged from 36.7°F at Medford, WI (COOP observer) to 44.8°F at Boscobel, WI (AWOS) in the Upper Mississippi River Valley. These temperatures ranged from 3°F to 6°F below normal. This was the coldest April since 2018. Austin, MN (38.9°F) had its 3rd coldest April. Records date back to 1938. Grand Meadow, MN (37.8°F) had their 5th coldest April. Their coldest April occurred in 2018 (31.8°F). Records date back to 1891. Rochester International Airport had an average temperature of 40.3°F. This tied 1995 for the 12th coldest April. Their coldest April occurred in 2018 (34.5°F). Records date back to 1886. The warmest temperature was 82°F at the Boscobel Airport on April 23. Meanwhile, the coldest temperature was 13°F in Sparta, WI (COOP) on April 17. This was a 69°F difference.

Precipitation

Precipitation ranged from 1.85" at Gays Mills, WI (COOP observer) to 7.24" at St. Ansgar, IA. This precipitation ranged from 2" below normal to 3" wetter than normal. Rochester International Airport (6.83") had its second wettest April. Only 2001 (7.30") was wetter. Records date back to 1886. St. Ansgar, IA (7.24") had their 3rd wettest April. Their wettest April occurred in 2013 (8.39"). Records date back to 1950. Elgin, MN (5.47") had their 9th wettest April. Their wettest April occurred in 1999 (8.19"). Records date back to 1939. The highest one-day precipitation was 4.50" at St. Ansgar, MN (COOP observer) from April 12-13.

Snowfall

April snowfall ranged from no snow to 7.2" near Medford, WI (CoCoRaHS observer). This snowfall ranged from 2.5" below normal to 2.5" above normal.  The highest one-day snowfall was 3.6" in Charles City, IA (COOP observer) from April 1-2.

Below are the April 2022 climate summaries for La Crosse, WI, and Rochester, MN...

La Crosse, WI

April 2022 Highlights

Temperatures...Tied for the 30th Coldest with 1881 and 1973 The average temperature was 44.5°F at La Crosse Regional Airport. This was 4.5°F colder than 1991-2020 normal of 49°F. This April was tied with 1881 and 1973 for the 30th coldest April. It was the coldest since 2018 (39.3°F - Tied with 1873 for the coldest April). The average high temperature was 53.4°F. This was 6.2°F colder than 1991-2020 normal of 60.4°F. This was tied with 1973 for the 29th coldest in April. It was the coldest since 2018 (50.2°F - Tied with 1953 and 1975 for the 6th coldest during April). The average low temperature was 35.5°F. This was 2.9°F colder than 1991-2020 normal of 38.4°F. This was with 1973 and 1989 for the 35th coldest in April. It was the coldest since 2018 (28.4°F - coldest during April).

• The warmest temperature was 76°F on April 23.
• The coldest temperature was 23°F on April 1.

Precipitation...Slightly Drier than Normal

• A total of 3.27" of precipitation fell. Which was 0.48" drier than the 1991-2020 normal of 3.75 inches. This was the wettest April since 2017 (4.87" - tied with 1965 for the 15th wettest April).
• The wettest day was 0.73" on April 22.

Snowfall...Less than Normal

• A total of 1" of snow fell. Which was 1.9" less than the 1991-2020 normal of 2.9". Most snow in April since 2020 (2.5").
• The snowiest day was 0.5" on April 7.

Snow Depth...Below the Long-Term Average

• The average snow depth was 0". The was 0.1" below the 1893-2022 average of 0.1".
• The greatest snow depth was 1" on April 8.

Average Wind Speed...4th Highest April and Month

• The average wind speed at La Crosse Regional Airport was 11.3 mph. This was the 4th highest average for the month of April and for any month. The only other months to be higher were April 1964 (12.3 mph), April 1960 (11.7 mph), and April 1954 (11.4 mph). This was the first month to average above 11 mph since April 1997 (11.1 mph). Typically April is our windiest month with an average wind speed (1948- 2022) of 8.4 mph.

April 2022 Records...

• None.

Looking ahead to May...

• The normal high temperature in La Crosse rises from 66°F on May 1st to 77°F by the end of the month. The normal low temperature warms from 45°F on the 1st to 56°F by the end of the month. The normal mean temperature for the month is 61°F. La Crosse's warmest May occurred in 1934 with an average temperature of 68°F, and their coldest May occurred in 1907 with an average temperature of 50.8°F.
• For May, the hottest temperature ever recorded was 107°F on May 31, 1934, and the coldest temperature was 26°F on May 2, 1911, May 3, 1971, and May 6, 1989.
• The average precipitation for May is 4.33". There are normally 5 days with thunderstorms during May in La Crosse. The wettest May occurred in 2004 with 9.73" of precipitation, while the driest was in 1887 with 0.50". The wettest May day was 3.06" on May 19, 1912. Normally, there are 5 days with thunderstorms.

Rochester

April 2022 Highlights...

Temperatures...Tied with 1995 for 12th Coldest The average temperature was 40.3°F at Rochester International Airport. This was 4.9°F colder than 1991-2020 normal of 45.2°F. This was tied with 1995 for the 12th coldest April. It was the coldest April since 2018 (34.5°F - coldest April).  The average high temperature was 48.4°F. This was 6.9°F colder than 1991-2020 normal of 55.3°F. This was the 8th coldest in April.  It was the coldest April since 2018 (44.5°F - coldest in April).  The average low temperature was 32.2°F. This was 2.9°F colder than 1991-2020 normal of 35.9°F. This was tied with 1892 and 1933 for the 25th coldest April. This was the coldest average since 2018 (24.5°F - coldest in April).

• The warmest temperature was 71°F on April 23.
• The coldest temperature was 22°F on April 1.

Precipitation...2nd Wettest

• A total of 6.83 inches of precipitation fell. Which was 3.31" wetter than 1991-2020 normal of 3.52 inches. Only 2001 was wetter with 7.30" of precipitation.
• The wettest day was 2.25" on April 12.

Snowfall...Less than Normal

• A total of 0.9" of snow fell. Which was 2.4" less than the 1991-2020 normal of 3.3". Most snow in April since 2020 (8.5").
• The snowiest day was 0.4 inches on April 7.

Snow Depth...Below the Long-Term Average

• The average snow depth was 0". The was 0.2" below the 1945-2022 average of 0.2".
• The greatest snow depth was 0" every day of the month.

Average Wind Speed...Tied 1981 for the 4th Windiest April

• The average wind speed was 16.2 mph. This tied 1981 for the 4th windiest April. Only 3 other Aprils were windier. They include: 1964 (16.7 mph), 1982 (16.5 mph), and 1984 (16.4 mph). This was tied with January 1986 and April 1981 for the 12th windiest month. The windiest month was March 1982 with an average wind speed of 17.8 mph.

April 2022 Records...

• Daily Records...
  • April 12 - Precipitation - 2.25 inches - Previous Record 0.86 inches in 1960
  • April 25 - Coldest Maximum Temperature Tied - 36°F - Previous Record 36°F in 1965

Looking ahead to May...

• The normal high temperature in Rochester rises from 62°F on May 1st to 74°F by the end of the month. The normal low temperature rises from 41°F on the 1st to 53°F by the end of the month. The normal mean temperature for the month is 57.6°F. Rochester’s warmest May occurred in 1934 with an average temperature of 66.2°F, and their coldest May occurred in 1888 with an average of only 49.6°F.
• For May, the hottest temperature ever recorded was 106°F on May 31, 1934, and the coldest temperature was 21°F on May 3 in 1910 and 1967.  Normally, there is only 1 day with temperatures at or above 90°F. 
• The average precipitation for the month of May is 4.35". The wettest May occurred in 2013 with 12.26" of precipitation. While the driest was in 1934 with 0.40". The wettest May day was 4.02" on May 17, 2000. Normally, there are 5 days with thunderstorms.