April 2022 Climate Summary

April 2022 was cool and rainy/snowy compared to normal for nearly all of the region. A number of records were set, including low temperature records at several sites and record low high temperatures at both Hibbing and International Falls on April 15, making it feel more like February than mid April. Snowfall was several inches above average at both International Falls and Duluth, and precipitation was above average at all sites. International Falls recorded it’s rainiest (including melted snow) April on record! There is some good and bad with this, so let’s start out with the bad. With the cold temperatures, snowpack remained well into April, and additional snow falling through April reinforced the snowpack especially along the North Shore. Estimated snow depth up to around 2 feet remained into early May for some parts just inland of the North Shore northeast of Duluth! The snow pack, combined with rainfall, has resulted in most rivers running high across the region, with areas along the International Border likely to see flooding issue over the next few weeks as runoff continues. The good news is that this precipitation has effectively ended our long-lasting drought from last summer!

Drought conditions are no longer mentioned or forecasted in the Climate Prediction Center’s (CPC) monthly and summer outlooks. While below average temperatures have been forecasted for May by the CPC in the Northland, the first few weeks are likely to be dominated by average to above average temperatures (see the 8-14 day outlooks). Warmer weather will also likely introduce some thunderstorm chances early-to-mid May, with above average precipitation in the forecast. The outlooks for the end of May as well as summer are more uncertain, with equal chances for above or below normal temperatures and precipitation forecasted by the CPC.