April’s rainfall statistics in 2011, according to Illinois State Climatologist Jim Angel broke the old April record of 7.13 inches set back in 1957 with an April 2011 statewide average rainfall of 7.45 inches.
Rainfall amounts were given in ranges for north, central and southern Illinois:
Northern Illinois ranged 4 to 6 inches.
Central Illinois ranged 4 to 10 inches.
Southern Illinois ranged 10 to 20 inches.
(The state’s highest rainfall was at 20.01 inches at Anna, Illinois).
For Chicago 4.90 inches was recorded, which is 1.22 inches above normal.
A record daily snowfall of 0.6 inches was set on April 18, 2011 — breaking the previous record of 0.4 inches set in April 18, 1910.
Also in Chicago the average high temperature was 56.1 degrees, which is 1.9 degrees below normal. The average low temperature was 39.3 degrees, which is 1.7 degrees above normal. The average temperature for the month was 47.7. degrees, which is 0.1 degrees below normal.
According Chicago’s veteran weather observer Frank Wachowski of WGN’s Chicago Weather Center, April 2011 set a record in Chicago for least April sunshine. Wachowski measured only 7671 minutes of sunshine out of a possible 24025 or just 32 percent of possible sunshine (53 percent is normal). The previous record low of 34 percent sunshine existed in April 1953. Saturday, April 30, 2011 ended the month with 41 percent sunshine and an official 71 degree high temperature.
See also …
NOAA NWS Public Information Statement 900 AM CDT SUN MAY 1 2011
Chicago Weather Center Least sunniest April ever in Chicago ends up with temps in the 70s