TOLEDO, Ohio — Frequent April downpours and unseasonably warm temperatures have impacted northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan in the last few weeks. Toledo recorded its first 80-degree day of the season while adding to its spring rainfall surplus.
In this week's edition of Climate Friday, Meteorologist John Burchfield will break down seasonal temperatures and rainfall and how climate change may be impacting the thermometer and rain gauge.
On Sunday, April 14 Toledo recorded its first 80 degree day of the season. The official temperature reading of 81 degrees at Toledo Express Airport fell just shy of the record high of 85 set just last year in 2023. This unseasonable 80 degree weather arrived several weeks early; Toledo normally logs its first 80 degree reading on approximately April 27.
Following this summer-feeling Sunday, temperatures remained mild into the workweek. Monday featured sunny and warm conditions with an afternoon high of 74. Tuesday featured a breezy setting with temperatures still above-average at 69 degrees. Wednesday brought the return of summer-like conditions with a high temperature of 78 in addition to a line of severe thunderstorms.
As a whole, April has been 4.3 degrees above average, a trend growing more common due to climate change. This April has featured an average high temperature of 63 degrees along with 6 temperature readings of 70 or greater. Though this weekend will bring the return of cooler conditions, the long-range trend into the end of April and start of May will turn much milder once again.
April has not only been warm, but also wet. As of Thursday evening, this month has brought 5.17 inches of rainfall, 3.16 inches above-average. More showers Thursday night into Friday morning added to this rainfall surplus. Even though April still has almost two weeks left, this month would go down as the eighth wettest on record if it ended today.
The wettest April on record in the Toledo area was 1929, which brought a whopping 7.13 inches of precipitation. 2011 takes the number two spot with 6.30 inches. The third wettest April was 1977 with 6.10 inches of rainfall. 1950 falls fourth on the list with 5.97 inches of rain. Rounding out the top six is 1910 with 5.79 inches of rain.
With over five inches of rain in just 19 days, this April has started off exceptionally damp. With almost two weeks from completion, April, 2024 has already surpassed the rainfall totals from each of the past four years. 2023 only brought a little over two inches of April rainfall. In 2022, Toledo, recorded just 1.79 inches of rain. 2021 brought 2.81 inches of precipitation. 2020 featured only 1.69 inches of rain.
Though climate change has enhanced rainfall totals overall, these past few years are a reminder that shorter-term weather patterns can dictate precipitation and temperatures even in today's new climate. 2024 has provided evidence of the overall increase in heavy downpours; on April 11, Toledo picked up a significant 2.67 inches of rain.
Flooding rainfall has become more commonplace, and much of northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan is still contending with localized flooding and high river levels. The weekend will bring dry and sunny weather to dry out the saturated ground.
After a warm and wet start to the month, conditions will turn slightly dryer and cooler for the next week. Next weekend will bring the return of warmer weather with returning showers. This April will likely go down as one of the mildest and rainiest on record. Stay tuned to the WTOL 11 weather team and subscribe to the Climate Friday Newsletter for the latest!
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