Cedar Rapids, IA weather in April
Expect cool weather with frequent rain in Cedar Rapids in April, with highs near 63°F and lows near 38°F. Rain or snow falls on about 11 days. Snowfall averages about 1.5 in. Good for outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 63°F
- Normal low
- 38°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 4.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.5 in
- normal snowfall
How April changes from start to finish
| April 1 | April 30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 57°F | 69°F |
| Normal low | 33°F | 44°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 35% | 39% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:49 am / 7:31 pm | 6:03 am / 8:03 pm |
| Daylight | 12.7 h | 14.0 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical April day
- 6 am41°Fdew point 36°F
- 9 am49°Fdew point 38°F
- Noon55°Fdew point 38°F
- 3 pm58°Fdew point 38°F
- 6 pm55°Fdew point 38°F
- 9 pm49°Fdew point 38°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Cedar Rapids Muni Airport (9 mi away); average wind 12 mph; clear or few clouds in 54% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 41%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F12 of 30
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 30
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 30
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow11 of 30
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 30
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below7 of 30
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 30
Average days per April, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in April
Normal precipitation is 4.0 in; a dry April brings about 3.2 in and a wet one about 4.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.5 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How April varies from year to year
- Warmest April, 1991-20202010: average high 71°F
- Coolest April2018: average high 55°F
- Wettest April2013: 8.4 in
- Driest April2004: 1.2 in
- Highest reading90°F (April 30, 2007)
- Lowest reading13°F (April 7, 2018)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
April compared with March and May
| March | April | May | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 49°F | 63°F | 74°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 38°F | 50°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 11 | 13 |
| Comfortable days | 4 | 12 | 16 |
| Daylight | 11.9 h | 13.4 h | 14.6 h |
Highs change by +14°F from March and +11°F into May.
Nearby alternatives in April
- Cooler: Madison, WI136 mi · high 57°F · 13 wet days
How Cedar Rapids ranks in April
- Normal high233rd warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 3 in Iowa
- Wet days274th driest of 378
- Comfortable days162nd most of 340
What to pack for Cedar Rapids in April
- A warm jacket – lows near 38°F, highs near 63°F
- Layers – afternoons near 63°F but nights near 38°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
Frost in April
The last spring frost typically comes around Apr 28; in 1 year in 10 it comes after May 13. All frost dates for Cedar Rapids.
Heating and cooling
April has 434 heating degree days and 10 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 6% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Cedar Rapids in April?
The normal high is 63°F and the normal low is 38°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest April reading was 13°F (most recently on April 7, 2018).
Does it rain a lot in Cedar Rapids in April?
About 11 days in April have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.0 in. The wettest April in 1991-2020 was in 2013 (8.4 in); the driest was in 2004 (1.2 in).
Does it snow in Cedar Rapids in April?
Yes. Normal snowfall in April is 1.5 in.
Is April a good time to visit Cedar Rapids?
April ranks 3rd of 12 months on our comfort score for Cedar Rapids (65 out of 100). It has about 12 comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Cedar Rapids #1 (USC00131319), 4.0 mi NE of the city center, 813 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Cedar Rapids Muni Airport (USW00014990), 9.4 mi SSW of the city center, 868 ft (60 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Eastern Iowa Regional Airport (725450-14990), 9.6 mi SSW of the city center, 840 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.