Although the last few days of April may not have felt like it, April had above
average temperatures. Geary County Extension Agent Chuck Otte reported that this is the 8th consecutive month with above average temperatures. However, unlike the previous couple of months, April also had above average rainfall.
The average daily high during April was 67.6, 1.7 degrees above normal. The
average overnight low for the month was 47.0, 4.8 degrees above normal.
This gave us a monthly mean temperature for April of 57.3, 3.2 degrees
above normal. The highest temperature for the month was 85 degrees on the
5th. The lowest temperature for the month was 28 on April 1st. That reading
plus a morning low of 32 on the 8th were the only freezing temperatures we
had for April. Assuming we have no 32 degree or lower readings in May (it
can happen), April 8th will be our last freeze of the spring which would be a
week earlier than our average last frost date of April 15th. There were no
high or low temperature records set or tied for the month. The monthly mean
temperature of 57.3 while above normal, was well within our expected range
of April monthly mean temperatures. The hottest April on record was in 1955
when we had a monthly mean temperature of 63.2. The coldest April on
record was in 1983 when we had a nippy monthly mean temperature of 45.9
degrees.
The first half of April continued an ongoing dry period with one minor rainfall
event of less than a quarter of an inch on the 6th. The dry spell was broken
starting on April 18th with the next 12 days bringing us well above normal
April rainfall. Long term average April rainfall is 2.95 inches. Milford Lake
received 5.27 inches and Junction City 4.78 inches. However, heavy rainfall
events on the 26th brought over six inches of rain to some locations in
northeast Geary County. While those heavy rains helped to alleviate the dry
conditions, the area is still running just a little below normal for the year.
Average precipitation for the first four months of the year is 7.06 inches. Year
to date Milford Lake has received 7.00 inches and Junction City, 6.58 inches.
The wettest April on record was in 1944 when 12.59 inches of rain pelted the
region. The driest April was in 1989 when only 0.36 inches of rain could be
found in the rain gauges!
May brings us many things: our frost free date is around May 10th (time to
plant tomatoes and peppers then), one of our two wettest months of the year,
and the end of the school year for many area schools. Average daily highs in
May range from 72 on May Day to 81 by Memorial Day. Overnight lows range
from 48 on the 1st to 58 on the 31st. Average rainfall for May is 4.79 inches.
While long term average snowfall for May is one tenth of an inch, we rarely
see snow in May, although we did see some early May snow in 2013.
Chuck Otte
County Extension Agent, Ag & Natural Resources