April 2009 Climate Summary

For a printable version of the climate summary which includes more figures, data tables, and state summaries, click here.

Temperature Summary
This April the High Plains Region was cool with common average monthly temperature departures ranging from near normal to 6˚F (3.3˚C) below normal.  While the cool average temperatures were not record breaking for the majority of the region, a few locations ranked in the top 10 coolest Aprils on record.  For instance, White Lake, SD recorded its 8th coolest April with an average temperature of 42.5˚F (5.8˚C).  The record coolest April was recorded in 1950 with an average temperature of 39.2˚F (4.0˚C).

Precipitation Summary
Southeast Kansas was the wettest area in the region this month, with many locations receiving several inches above normal precipitation.  This month’s extreme locations were Wichita, KS and Anthony, KS which both broke several precipitation records.  Wichita recorded its 2nd wettest April on record with 9.94 inches (252.5 mm).  Of this monthly total, 5.10 inches (129.5 mm) fell in one day (April 26), which set a daily record as well.  Anthony recorded its wettest April with 9.91 inches (251.7 mm), or 341% of normal.  The previous wettest April occurred in 1970 with 7.54 inches (191.5 mm).  The wettest day to ever occur in April was on April 27, 2009, when Anthony received 6.55 inches (166.4 mm) of rain.  This smashed the old record of 2.20 inches (55.9 mm) which was recorded in 1938.  In addition, this 24-hour precipitation total went down as the 3rd greatest 24-hour precipitation total on record for this location (period of record 1896-present)!

Climate Outlook
This month a transition from La Niña to ENSO-neutral conditions began and this transition is expected to continue.  Above normal temperatures are predicted for Colorado, the western half of Kansas, the majority of Wyoming and a small part of western Nebraska.  Below normal temperatures are predicted for the eastern half of the Dakotas and eastern Nebraska.  Additionally, below normal precipitation is predicted for Wyoming, most of Colorado, and a small portion of the panhandle of Nebraska.  Meanwhile, above normal precipitation is predicted for the eastern half of the Dakotas and extreme northeastern Nebraska.  Elsewhere in the region, equal chances of above, near, or below normal temperature and precipitation are predicted.  More information about these forecasts can be found here: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/.

Over the past month showers and thunderstorms helped erase the D2, D1, and much of the D0 conditions in Kansas.  However, areas across north central Kansas and eastern Nebraska missed out and D0 conditions have spread.  Drought conditions have improved across Wyoming and parts of Colorado, however, abnormally dry conditions (D0) have reemerged in western North Dakota.  According to the U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook released April 16, drought conditions are forecasted to persist in Wyoming, but improve in Colorado through July 2009.