Climate Summary for April of 2025

Climate Summary for April of 2025:

Average monthly temperature in April was from 1 to 3°F warmer than normal in many places around the state, but near normal to 1°F below in some northern Minnesota communities. Extremes for the month ranged from 83°F at Winnebago (Faribault County) and Sherburn (Martin County) on the 18th to -1°F at Gunflint Lake on the 9th.

Most areas of the state reported above normal precipitation during the month. The wettest areas of the state were generally in the northeast where observer reports averaged about 3.5 inches for the month, and in the southeast, where observer reports averaged about 4.5 inches for the month. Many climate stations reported between 2.5 and 3.5 inches of precipitation for the month, while Houston and Preston in southeastern Minnesota reported over 6 inches. In fact, over 50 new daily precipitation records were set during the month within the Minnesota climate station network, including 2.26 inches at La Crescent on the 21st and 2.51 inches at Gunflint Lake on the 29th.

As for the tally of severe weather earlier this week on Monday, April 28th, there were 3 reports of tornadoes (one in Nobles County and two in Rice County), 23 reports of large hail (1.0” or greater diameter), including 2.75” diameter hail in Rock County, and 5 reports of wind damage in Minnesota.

April snowfall was generally scarce across the state, except in the north where there reports of monthly totals ranging from 8 to 15 inches. Wolf Ridge in Lake County along the north shore of Lake Superior reported 18.2 inches of snow.

According to the USDA reports, sugarbeet planting in the state was nearly half finished by month’s end, and corn planting was roughly 30 percent finished. A survey of topsoil moisture content by month’s end showed over 75 percent of soils were rated adequate to surplus in moisture content. Drought conditions by month’s end showed about 22 percent of the state landscape was in Moderate Drought, a great improvement over the beginning of the month when two-thirds of the state landscape was in at least Moderate Drought.

Even though April is historically the windiest month of the year in Minnesota, the windiness was exceptional this month. Here is a list of some of the climate stations that reported 15 or more days with wind gusts of 30 mph or greater:

Redwood Falls 21 days
Fargo-Moorhead 20 days
Rochester 18 days
MSP 17 days
Mankato 17 days
Brainerd 16 days

Many reported several days with wind gusts over 40 mph as well.

Weekly Weather Potpourri:

The UK Met Office and BBC Weather Center reported that this week brought the hottest May 1st in history, with the afternoon temperature hitting 85°F in the Kew Gardens of London. Several other locations saw the maximum temperature reach 80° or greater that day as well. For most it was the warmest start to May since 1990.

A recent article in Nature Communications examines the increased frequency of dramatic climate shifts or flip-flops in temperature that occur in many regions of the world. These are the cases where temperature patterns flip from very warm to very cold, and visa versa over short periods of time. The study found that “of the global areas defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, over 60% have experienced more frequent, intense, and rapid flips since 1961, and this trend will expand to most areas in the future.”

MPR listener question:

How fast do raindrops and hailstones fall? Sometimes when I am caught in storm, the rain and hail actually hurt.

Answer:

The velocity of raindrops depends a great deal on their size and the winds associated with the rainstorm. Small droplets in a drizzle or light shower (.005 to .02 inches in diameter) may fall at speeds of only 2 to 5 mph. Large rain drops (.04 to .20 inches in diameter) from a typical thunderstorm may fall at speeds of 15 to 25 mph, or even faster if driven by wind gusts. Hail, ranging in size up to 1 inch in diameter may fall at velocities of 9-25 mph, while hail between 1 and 2 inches in diameter may fall at speeds from 25 to 40 mph. Extremely large hail stones, between 2 and 4 inches in diameter can fall at speeds from 44-72 mph according to NOAA studies.

Twin Cities Almanac for May 2nd:

The average MSP high temperature for this date is 64 degrees F (plus or minus 12 degrees F standard deviation), while the average low is 45 degrees F (plus or minus 9 degrees F standard deviation).

MSP Local Records for May 2nd:

MSP records for this date: highest daily maximum temperature of 91 degrees F in 1959; lowest daily maximum temperature of 38 degrees F in 1909; lowest daily minimum temperature of 24 degrees F in 1961; highest daily minimum temperature of 70 degrees F in 1959, and record precipitation of 1.49 inches in 1944. Record snowfall is 2.2 inches also in 1954.

Average dew point for May 2nd is 38°F; the maximum dew point on this date is 64°F in 1959 and the minimum dew point on this date is 12 degrees F in 2005.

All-time state records for May 2nd:

The state record high temperature for this date is 99 degrees F at Wheaton (Traverse County) in 1959. The state record low temperature for this date is 4 degrees F at Pine River Dam (Crow Wing County) in 1909. The state record precipitation for this date is 3.05 inches at Trail (Pennington County) in 1950. The statewide snowfall record for this date is 15.4 inches at Dodge Center (Dodge County) in 2013.

Past Weather:

The coldest May 2nd in state history was in 1909 when morning temperatures were in the teens and twenties across much of the state, and just single digits in portions of Lake and Crow Wing Counties. Many communities reported daytime high temperatures in the low to mid 30s F.

May 2nd of 1959 brought a real Heat Wave to the state, as over 75 climate stations reported afternoon high temperatures of 90°F or greater. The temperature reached 92°F at Itasca State Park. Duluth and Two Harbors, both influenced by the cool waters of Lake Superior only reached 55°F.

May of 2013 began with some surprising weather……a lot of record-setting snow, especially for southeastern Minnesota communities. Many reported 8 to 15 inches of snowfall, and Dodge Center reported 17.2 inches of snow, the most ever from a May snowstorm in the state. Temperatures climbed into the 40s and 50s F the next day and the snow cover was short-lived.

Outlook:

Sunny weekend with warmer than normal temperatures. Continued sunny, warm, and dry most of next week with a slight chance for showers in southern areas of the state on Wednesday. Lots of days the highs will be in the 70s F and the lows in the 40s F.