April ended cool and slightly wetter than normal in Memphis. Temperatures averaged almost two degrees below normal, driven more by below average high temperatures than below average low temperatures. The warmest day of the month actually ended up being early in April, when on the 4th, the average temperature was 18 degrees above average and a high temperature record was set at 87 degrees. Two days later, the high was 53 degrees! Temperatures returned to near average levels into mid-month. The last ten days of the month were much cooler than normal and drove the overall temperature for the month below average.
Precipitation occurred regularly throughout the April, but featured a few very wet days due to periods of thunderstorms, a few of which were severe. Two and a half inches of rain fell on the 5th-6th and nearly the same again on the 21st-22nd, accounting for all but an inch of the month’s total. There were 11 rain days for the month, just above normal. Scattered wind damage occurred on the 1st, 5th, and 16th, while large hail fell in eastern Shelby County on the 27th.
Memphis International Airport, Memphis, TN
Temperature
Average temperature: 61.3 degrees (1.9 degrees below average)
Average high temperature: 70.8 degrees (2.6 degrees below average)
Average low temperature: 51.8 degrees (1.2 degrees below average)
Warmest temperature: 87 degrees (4th)
Coolest temperature: 40 degrees (24th)
Heating Degrees Days: 133 (3 above average)
Cooling Degree Days: 32 (44 below average)
Records set or tied: Record high (87 degrees on the 4th)
Comments: No days dropped to freezing or below and no days reached 90 degrees.
Precipitation
Monthly total: 6.38″ (0.51″ above average)
Days with measurable precipitation: 11 (1.4 days above average)
Wettest 24-hour period: 2.50″ (20th-21st)
Snowfall: None
Records set or tied: Daily record high – 2.37″ (21st)
Comments: None
Miscellaneous
Peak wind: West-northwest/52 mph (15th)
Average wind: 8.9 mph
Average relative humidity: 64%
Average sky cover: 60%
Click
here for a daily statistical recap for Memphis International Airport.
Cirrus Weather Solutions / MemphisWeather.net, Bartlett, TN
Temperature
Average temperature: 61.1 degrees
Average high temperature: 72.8 degrees
Average low temperature: 50.1 degrees
Warmest temperature: 89.3 degrees (4th)
Coolest temperature: 36.9 degrees (24th)
Comments: None
Precipitation
Monthly total: 6.28″ (automated rain gauge), 6.01″ (manual CoCoRaHS rain gauge)
Days with measurable precipitation: 12
Wettest date: 2.20″ (21st) (via automated gauge)
Snowfall: None
Comments: None
Miscellaneous
Peak wind: South-southwest/32 mph (15th)
Average relative humidity: 65%
Average barometric pressure: 30.02 in. Hg
Comments: None
Click here for a daily statistical recap for Bartlett, TN.
MWN Forecast Accuracy
MWN average temperature error: 2.12 degrees
MWN forecast temperatures within 2 degrees of actual: 65%
MWN average dewpoint error: 3.05 degrees
MWN forecast dewpoints within 2 degrees of actual: 53%
MWN’s forecasts extend out five periods (2.5 days, or roughly 60 hours). Historical accuracy statistics can be found
here.