April is a true transition month, typically bringing mild temperatures and a growing sense of spring. But the atmosphere can still be unsettled. Sharp temperature swings are common, and the month can deliver bouts of heavy rain, severe thunderstorms and even tornadoes.
Normal and record daily temperatures
April begins with average highs near 62 degrees and lows around 43 degrees. By month’s end, those climb to about 73 and 53 degrees, a steady push deeper into spring.
The range of extremes is still notable. It has reached 95 degrees (April 17, 2002, and April 18, 1976), while the coldest reading is 15 degrees on April 1, 1923.
Record daily precipitation
“April showers bring May flowers” — but in D.C., flowers are already blooming by April. Still, rising moisture levels mean heavier rains are returning.
The record for the most rain in a day is 3.21 inches (1889). The lowest daily record is 0.97 inches (1984).
Record daily snowfall
April is usually the final chapter of snow season in D.C. — and in today’s climate, it’s a rare one.
The biggest April snowfall was 5.5 inches on April 1, 1924. The latest accumulation on record is 0.5 inches in 1898.
Monthly temperatures by year
April’s average temperature is 58.2 degrees, more than 10 degrees warmer than March as spring takes hold.
The range is notable, from a warm 63.8 degrees in 2017 to a cool 47.1 degrees in 1874.
Over time, April temperatures have risen by about 5 degrees since the early 1900s.
Monthly precipitation by year
April averages about 3.21 inches of precipitation, slightly lower than both March and May.
Totals have varied widely, from a soggy 9.13 inches in 1889 to just 0.03 inches in 1985.
Over time, April precipitation has fluctuated by about an inch but remains close to where it was in the early 1900s.
Monthly snowfall by year
In the late 1800s through the early 1900s, April snowfall was hit-or-miss but not unusual, with occasional events producing several inches.
Since the 1950s, the average has rounded to zero inches, reflecting how rare it has become. The most recent measurable snowfall came in 2007, with 0.4 inches.
While April was never a major snow month, a warming climate has largely pushed it out of the picture.
Events of note
April 1, 1924. The modern April snowfall record: 5.5 inches in D.C. (9.8 inches in Baltimore).
April 5, 1863. Before official records, about a foot of snow was reported in Georgetown — the heaviest known April snowfall in D.C.
April 6, 1889. 4 inches of snow fell, the largest so late in the season. Thunder and lightning were reported.
April 17, 2002. A high of 95 degrees tied the monthly record and marked one of the earliest such extreme heat events.
April 18, 1976. Another 95-degree day, tied for the hottest April temperature on record.
April 27, 2011. 19 tornadoes touched down in the broader D.C. region as part of the historic “Super Outbreak,” which killed 320 people, mostly in the South.
April 28, 2002. An F4 tornado struck La Plata, Maryland, killing five people.
