Geary County Extension Agent Chuck Otte has reported that April was warmer and drier than normal. This may come as a surprise to many people as the month ended with cool and rainy weather, but for the entire month, it was warmer and drier than normal.

The average daily high in April was 67.1, 1.2 degrees above normal. The average overnight low was 44.9, 2.7 degrees above normal. This gave us a monthly mean temperature of 56.0, 1.9 degrees above normal. That isn’t a large deviation from normal or average temperatures, but it is noteworthy. The highest temperature for the month was 84 degrees on the 10th. The lowest temperature for April was 29 degrees the morning of the 11th. The high of 84 on the 10th tied the record high for that date. The record was originally set in 1981. This was the only temperature record set or tied during the month. April brings us our long term average last frost date of April 14. While it’s still possible to have frosts as late as May 14th, we are, on average, past the last frost. So far this year, our last 32 degrees or colder reading was the 32 degree low on April 12th. If this holds it could be good news for home fruit growers! The warmest April was in 1955 when we had a monthly mean temperature of 63.2. The coldest April was in 1983 when we had a chilly monthly mean temperature of 45.9!

April showers were few and far between this year. Average April rainfall is 2.95 inches. Milford Lake received 1.51 inches of rain during the month. Junction City received 1.84 inches of rain during April. Normal precipitation for January through April is 7.06 inches. Milford Lake has received 5.40 inches and Junction City 6.37 inches. No measurable snowfall was observed in  April bringing an end to six consecutive months of receiving measurable snowfall. Barring a May snowfall we will end the snowfall season with 23.7 inches of snow, well above the average of 18 inches.

May brings us notably warmer temperatures and, along with June, our wettest month(s). Average daily highs begin the month at 72 and by the 31st should be up to 81. Overnight lows warm from 48 at the start of the month to 58 by the end of the month. Long term average rainfall for May is 4.79 inches which almost matches June’s average rainfall of 4.80 inches!