April 2016 Mid-South Climate Summary

...APRIL 2016 MID-SOUTH CLIMATE SUMMARY...

The month of April is typically one of the wettest and most active for the region, but when compared with the previous month of March 2016 it was much more subdued. Temperatures were around a couple of degrees warmer than normal at the four official climate sites, with precipitation totals varying from quite a bit drier than normal to wetter than normal, although 2016 to date totals remain well above normal.

As per usual, Memphis was the warmest of the official sites during April with an average temperature 2.0 degrees warmer than normal. Memphis currently resides 2.3 degrees above normal for the year to date. Tupelo had an average temperature which was 1.5 degrees warmer than normal for the month, with an average temperature for the year to date at 1.7 degrees warmer than normal. Tupelo recorded the warmest temperature of the official sites with 86.0 degrees. While Memphis was the warmest site by average temperature, Jonesboro actually had the warmest departure from normal at 2.8 degrees warmer during April. For the year to date Jonesboro is currently 1.9 degrees above normal. Finally, the average temperature at Jackson was 1.6 degrees above normal for April, which resulted in a 1.5 degree departure above normal for 2016 to date. Jackson recorded the coolest temperature of the four official sites for the month with 37.0 degrees.

In addition to being the warmest official site, Memphis was also the wettest. The monthly total at Memphis International Airport was 5.97 inches, or 0.47 inches above normal. For the year to date Memphis remains wetter than normal, having received 10.99 inches of precipitation above normal, or 158% of the normal. Tupelo was not far behind the Bluff City, recording 5.85 inches of precipitation during April, 1.07 inches above normal. For 2016 to date Tupelo is also wetter, but only by 1.87 inches, or 110% of the normal. Both Jackson and Jonesboro were near normal to below normal for April. Jonesboro picked up 4.46 inches of precipitation, which was still 0.56 inches below normal, while remaining 4.94 inches of precipitation wetter than normal for 2016. Jackson was 1.66 inches drier than normal for April, receiving only 3.20 inches of rain. For the year to date Jackson remains wetter at 3.62 inches above normal.

The climate data for April are as follows:

TEMPERATURE DATA:

                               Memphis    Jackson   Jonesboro   Tupelo

Average Temperature (MONTH)  :   64.9     61.6       62.3       63.6

Normal Avg. Temp (MONTH)     :   62.9     60.0       59.5       62.1

Departure from Normal (MONTH):    2.0       1.6        2.8        1.5

Average Temperature (YEAR)   :   53.2     49.4       49.2       52.6

Normal Avg. Temp (YEAR)      :   50.9     47.9       47.3       50.9

Departure from Normal (YEAR) :    2.3       1.5        1.9        1.7

Maximum Temperature          :   85.0     84.0       83.0       86.0

Minimum Temperature          :   43.0     37.0       42.0       38.0

PRECIPITATION DATA:

                                Memphis   Jackson   Jonesboro   Tupelo

Total Precipitation (MONTH)  :   5.97     3.20       4.46       5.85

Normal Precipitation (MONTH) :   5.50     4.86       5.02       4.78

Departure from Normal (MONTH):   0.47     -1.66      -0.56       1.07

Total Precipitation (YEAR)   :  30.02     21.47      21.61      20.91

Normal Precipitation (YEAR)  :  19.03     17.85      16.67      19.04

Departure from Normal (YEAR) :  10.99     3.62       4.94       1.87

Percent of Normal            :   158%     120%       130%       110%

Climate Outlook:

As the El Nino event across the equatorial Pacific Ocean continues to weaken to neutral ENSO conditions, with a transition to La Nina possible for fall, the current Climate Prediction Center (CPC) outlook for the rest of May is for near normal to above normal temperatures with above normal precipitation totals. The current three month outlook, which includes the summer months of June, July, and August collectively, predicts enhanced odds of above normal temperatures with equal chances given for above, near, or below normal precipitation totals.

MAYE