Detroit, MI weather in April
Expect cool weather with frequent rain in Detroit in April, with highs near 58°F and lows near 39°F. Rain or snow falls on about 13 days. Snowfall averages about 1.5 in.
- Normal high
- 58°F
- Normal low
- 39°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 3.3 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.5 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How April changes from start to finish
| April 1 | April 30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 52°F | 64°F |
| Normal low | 33°F | 44°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 39% | 42% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:14 am / 7:57 pm | 6:28 am / 8:30 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 (Eastern Time).
A typical April day
- 6 am42°Fdew point 34°F
- 9 am48°Fdew point 35°F
- Noon53°Fdew point 36°F
- 3 pm56°Fdew point 36°F
- 6 pm54°Fdew point 35°F
- 9 pm49°Fdew point 35°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Detroit City Airport (6 mi away); average wind 10 mph; clear or few clouds in 44% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 47%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F7 of 30
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 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 snow13 of 30
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 30
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below6 of 30
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more1 of 30
Average days per April, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in April
Normal precipitation is 3.3 in; a dry April brings about 2.3 in and a wet one about 4.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half 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 64°F
- Coolest April2018: average high 50°F
- Wettest April2019: 5.8 in
- Driest April2004: 0.7 in
- Highest reading85°F (April 24, 2009)
- Lowest reading18°F (April 5, 1995)
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 | 45°F | 58°F | 70°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 39°F | 50°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 13 | 13 |
| Comfortable days | 2 | 7 | 15 |
| Daylight | 11.9 h | 13.4 h | 14.6 h |
Highs change by +13°F from March and +12°F into May.
Nearby alternatives in April
- Warmer: Columbus, OH164 mi · high 64°F · 14 wet days
How Detroit ranks in April
- Normal high302nd warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 8 in Michigan
- Wet days330th driest of 378
- Comfortable days256th most of 340
What to pack for Detroit in April
- A warm jacket – lows near 39°F, highs near 58°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 13 days
Frost in April
The last spring frost typically comes around Apr 21; in 1 year in 10 it comes after May 6. All frost dates for Detroit.
Heating and cooling
April has 511 heating degree days and 4 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 7% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Detroit in April?
The normal high is 58°F and the normal low is 39°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest April reading was 18°F (April 5, 1995).
Does it rain a lot in Detroit in April?
About 13 days in April have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.3 in. The wettest April in 1991-2020 was in 2019 (5.8 in); the driest was in 2004 (0.7 in).
Does it snow in Detroit in April?
Yes. Normal snowfall in April is 1.5 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is April a good time to visit Detroit?
April ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Detroit (58 out of 100). It has about 7 comfortable days. The best months are May, June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Detroit City Airport (USW00014822), 5.7 mi NNE of the city center, 626 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain, snowfall and snow depth: Detroit Metro Airport (USW00094847), 16 mi WSW of the city center, 631 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Flint Bishop Intl Airport (USW00014826), 57 mi NW of the city center, 770 ft (172 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Detroit City Airport (725375-14822), 5.5 mi NNE of the city center, 623 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.