The preliminary statewide average April temperature was 58.6 degrees, 6.4 degrees above the 1991–2020 normal, 7.1 degrees above the 20th Century average, 5.8 degrees above the most recent 30-year average, and the second warmest April on record statewide.
The preliminary statewide total April precipitation was 6.37 inches, 2.13 inches above the 1991–2020 normal, 2.65 inches above the 20th Century average, 2.19 inches above the most recent 30-year average, and the eighth wettest April on record statewide.
Data are provisional and may change slightly over time.
Warm Throughout, With Some Swings
April is a transition month in Illinois, moving from winter to summer. However, this year April was decidedly more spring and summer than winter. Daily average temperatures and departures from normal in Elgin show some brief periods of cooler weather last month, but mostly days with temperatures that were 5 to 20 degrees above normal (Figure 1).
April average temperatures ranged from the mid-50s in northern Illinois to the mid-60s in southern Illinois, between 4 and 9 degrees above normal (Figure 2). Prolonged periods of warmth broke 29 daily high maximum temperature records and broke an astounding 167 daily high minimum temperature records last month. Only one daily low minimum temperature record was broken, with a 24-degree low in Elgin on April 20th. Eight places broke their all-time April high minimum temperature records last month, including a 70-degree low temperature in Mt. Vernon and a 68-degree low temperature in Peoria. Waukegan was the coolest place in the state in April with an average temperature of 50.5 degrees, and Smithland Lock & Dam in Massac County was the warmest place in the state with an average temperature of 65.2 degrees.
Overall, the preliminary statewide average April temperature was 58.6 degrees, 6.4 degrees above the 1991–2020 normal, 7.1 degrees above the 20th Century average, 5.8 degrees above the most recent 30-year average, and the second warmest April on record statewide.
Many April Showers
April this year brought a very active storm track and multiple rounds of heavy precipitation, especially in northern and central Illinois. April total precipitation ranged from around 2.5 inches in far southern Illinois to over 12 inches in northwest Illinois. April was 1 to 3 inches drier than average in far southern Illinois and was 1 to 8 inches wetter than normal in most places north of Interstate 70 (Figure 3).
Multiple rounds of very heavy rain across northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin caused widespread flooding on several rivers, including the Fox and Des Plaines. The Fox River at Algonquin reached a peak of 12 feet for the first time since 2017, as communities sand-bagged to minimize flood damage. Meanwhile, the wet weather in central Illinois continued the region’s drought recovery, as all drought in the U.S. Drought Monitor was removed from the region by the end of the month.
Last month was the wettest April on record in Freeport with 8.92 inches; a full inch above the previous wettest April in 2013. Last month was also the 7th wettest April on record in Chicago and Rockford, and the 6th wettest April on record in Peoria.
Overall, the preliminary statewide total April precipitation was 6.37 inches, 2.13 inches above the 1991–2020 normal, 2.65 inches above the 20th Century average, 2.19 inches above the most recent 30-year average, and the eighth wettest April on record statewide.
No Measurable April Snowfall (You’re Welcome)
The first 80-degree day in many parts of Illinois is on par with any of the great weather gifts we have, like Christmas morning snow or an October afternoon with winds below 20 mph. But if you’ve lived in Illinois for more than a year, you should be weary of the snow that inevitably follows that first taste of summer temperatures. This year, though, no measurable snow came to Illinois in April. Many stations in northern Illinois recorded trace snowfall in the first week of the month, but no accumulation.
Given the rarity of May snow in Illinois, I am confident in my proclamation of the end of the 2025-26 snowfall season. Snowfall totals in Illinois ranged from less than 5 inches in parts of southeast Illinois to over 30 inches in northwest Illinois. Much of the northern part of the state, although somewhat snowy, was still 5 to 10 inches below normal on season snowfall, while most of central Illinois, especially the Interstate 72 corridor, was 5 to 10 inches above average on snowfall (Figure 5). While not record breaking, the 2025-26 snow season was the snowiest since the 2013-14 season in Decatur, and the snowiest since the 2014-15 season in Champaign-Urbana.
Incredibly Active Severe Weather
April advanced what has been an incredibly active severe weather year for Illinois. As of May 1st, Illinois had 108 tornadoes in 2026. For perspective, our state has averaged around 60 tornadoes per year over the past 30 years. Mississippi is the next most tornado-active state this year with 61 (Figure 4). There were simply too many tornado events last month to highlight them all. Among many notable storms was a group of tornadoes that tore through Bloomington-Normal, leaving significant damage especially on the north and west sides of the metro area. An EF-2 tornado caused significant damage in Lena, Illinois on April 17th. While multiple homes were substantially damaged, there were no reported injuries or fatalities. 2026 is the third consecutive year with over 100 tornadoes in Illinois, continuing a remarkably active period of severe weather for our state.
Outlooks
Even though April can give us a taste of summer, May is the first month where we really experience summer weather. However, the final outlooks for May from the Climate Prediction Center show a blob of blue, indicating higher chances of cooler than normal weather for the final month of spring. Meanwhile, higher chances of drier than normal weather for the Upper Midwest, including northern Illinois, are welcome as folks look out over water-logged fields in the northern part of our state (Figure 6).
May is also the month where we start to get a better picture of what summer may bring in Illinois. The most recent summer (June – August) outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center show equal chances of warmer and cooler than normal summer weather. I’m here for a summer sans extreme heat and humidity! We also see no strong signal in precipitation, understanding that summer rainfall is very challenging to predict weeks to months ahead of the season (Figure 7).
