A Statistical Preview of Caribou's April Climate, updated 4/1 with latest CPC Forecast

...A statistical preview of Caribou's April weather...

During the month of April the average temperatures undergo the largest rise of any month of the year.  The average high temperature climbs from 40 degrees on the
1st to 56 by the end of the month.  The average low temperature rises from 23 on the 1st to 36 by the end of the month.

The warmest temperature ever observed during the month of April was 86 degrees on April 27, 1990.  The coldest temperature ever observed in April was 4 below on april 6, 2015. 

An average of 7.4 inches of snow falls during the month of April.  Since 1940, April snowfall has ranged from a trace in 1955 and 1968 to 36.4 inches in 1982.  The greatest 24 hour snowfall observed in April was 21.1 inches in 1982.  There have been 3 times since 1940 when the monthly snowfall exceeded 2 feet.

On average there are 2 days in April with a snowfall of 1 inch of more, and 1 day with a snowfall of 3 inches of more.  

In most years the snow pack melts out during the first half of April, but snow may remain on the ground in wooded areas for a couple of weeks after the snow has melted in town and in open fields.  On average the snow pack melts out on april 12th but in some years has been as late as early May.  The greatest snow depth of 42 inches was observed on april 8, 1982.  The greatest snow depth at the end of the month was 6 inches in 1961. 

Thunderstorms are still a relatively rare occurrence in April. On average there is thunderstorm about once every 3 years during the month of April. 

APRIL: CARIBOU’S TOP 5 WARMEST (AVERAGE TEMPERATURES):

44.9  DEGREES 2010

43.9 1987

42.8 1986

42.6 1980

41.9 1945

APRIL: CARIBOU’S TOP 5 COLDEST (AVERAGE TEMPERATURES):

29.1 DEGREES 1947

30.7 1943

32.3 2003

32.5 1944

32.9 1939

APRIL: CARIBOU’S TOP 5 WETTEST

6.19 INCHES 2005

5.26 1973

4.58 2000

4.50 1951

4.32 2012

APRIL: CARIBOU’S TOP SNOWIEST:

36.4 INCHES 1982

29.0 2007

24.4 1961

22.2 1973

16.2 1953

APRIL: CARIBOU’S TOP 5 DRIEST

0.54 INCHES 1967

0.73 1966

0.86 1955

0.92 1944

0.96 2001

…APRIL STATISTICS…

….TEMPERATURES (1981-2010 NORMALS)

AVERAGE HIGH……………………….....................................47.8

AVERAGE LOW………...........................................................29.5

MONTHLY AVERAGE…………………………………………..38.6

AVERAGE # OF DAYS W/HIGHS <32F……………………...1 (1.1)

AVERAGE # OF DAYS W/LOWS < 32F……………………..19 (19.1)

AVERAGE # OF DAYS W/HIGHS > 60F………………….…2

…PRECIPITATION…

MONTHLY AVERAGE………………………………………….....2.66 INCHES

AVERAGE DAYS WITH MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION…..13 (12.8)

LARGEST 24 HOUR RAINFALL……………………..…………..2.11 INCHES, 1958

AVERAGE SNOWFALL…………………………………………..7.4 INCHES

MOST SNOWFALL………………………………………………..36.4 INCHES, 1982

LEAST SNOWFALL……………………………………………….TRACE, 1955 & 1968

AVERAGE # OF DAYS W/SNOWFALL > 1 INCH………….….2 (2.3)

AVERAGE # OF DAYS W/SNOWFALL > 3 INCHES…………1

…MISCELLANEOUS APRIL AVERAGES…

NORMAL HEATING DEGREE DAYS………………………..…791

NORMAL COOLING DEGREE DAYS……………………….…0

MEAN WIND SPEED……………………………………………..8.9 MPH

AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS W/DENSE FOG…………..…2

MEAN NUMBER OF CLOUDY DAYS………………………….18

…SUNRISE AND SUNSET…

APRIL 1^ST………………………………………………..………….6:11 AM/7:01 PM

APRIL 30^TH .…….………………………………………….……….5:18 AM/7:41 PM

GAIN OF DAYLIGHT……………………………………….……..1 HOUR & 33 MINUTES

The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center below indicates an increased chance of above average temperatures in April 2016.  The are no strong climate signals that would point toward an unsually wet (snowy) or dry month.

The latest CFSv2 has been trending cooler and indicate near to possibly cooler than average temperatures for April 2016. The CFSv2 is just one on many tools that are used in monthly and seasonal forecasts.