April 2016 Saint Cloud Weather Summary

Average Temperatures, Which Seem Cold

April 2016 Saint Cloud, MN, Weather Summary

For the first month since last August, St. Cloud was not incredibly warm this April. The average temperature at the St. Cloud Regional Airport was 44.8°F, only 0.2°F above average. The month got off to a chilly start with three days of measurable snowfall, including 1.1 inch on April 8. Temperatures were below average on 10 of the first 12 days, including a record cold low of 13 degrees, set on April 9. This was caused by persistent flow from the northwest, draining some of the cold air trapped for most of the winter in Canada. However, a small adjustment which kept the bulk of the cold air in Ontario on its way to Labrador and the northeast US allowed temperatures to warm substantially in the middle of the month. Highs between April 14 and 18 were at least 72 degrees, and included an 80-degree high on April 14. This was about on time for St. Cloud's first 70-degree high, but about a month early for the first 80 of the year.

Second Warmest Oct-April in St. Cloud Records

Despite the relatively average April, St. Cloud added more warm statistics to one of mildest winters on record. For the period of October through April, St. Cloud had an average temperature of 33.2°F, about three degrees warmer than average and the second warmest Oct-Apr average temperature behind only 2011-2012 (35.3°F). Seven of the 10 warmest cold seasons have happened since 1986-1987. So far, St. Cloud has had only 140 days with a temperature of freezing or colder. Barring a severe May freeze-up, this will set a new record for the fewest frost days. The old record is 151 days, set in 2011-2012. There have been only 64 days with a high of freezing or colder. This would rank as the 9th fewest days with cold highs. The record is 49 days, set in 2011-2012.

In the past 5 winters, there have been two years ranking in the top 5 in snowfall (2012-2013 and 2013-2014) and two of the warmest winters on record (2011-2012 and 2015-2016).

The relative dry to the start of the year was again eased a bit by late month rain. A total of 1.74 inch fell in April, still 0.83 inch behind the average. However, the 1.12 inch that fell from April 23-25 accounted for the bulk of the precipitation and finally allowed greening of much of the vegetation once the sun broke out again at the end of the month. The total precipitation so far in 2016 has been 4.18 inches, about an inch and a half short of normal. This continues to lead to days with high fire danger in parts of the state. It also led to extremely high pollen levels for much of April.

May looks to continue the warm trend with some very mild weather beginning the month.

April 2016 Statistics