Minneapolis, MN weather in April
Expect cool weather with frequent rain and some snow in Minneapolis in April, with highs near 57°F and lows near 38°F. Rain or snow falls on about 11 days. Snowfall averages about 5.1 in.
- Normal high
- 57°F
- Normal low
- 38°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 2.9 in total
- Snowfall
- 5.1 in
- snow on the ground 2 days
How April changes from start to finish
| April 1 | April 30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 50°F | 63°F |
| Normal low | 32°F | 44°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 34% | 39% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:53 am / 7:40 pm | 6:03 am / 8:16 pm |
| Daylight | 12.8 h | 14.2 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 am40°Fdew point 31°F
- 9 am46°Fdew point 32°F
- Noon52°Fdew point 32°F
- 3 pm54°Fdew point 32°F
- 6 pm53°Fdew point 31°F
- 9 pm48°Fdew point 32°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Minneapolis/St Paul Airport (7 mi away); average wind 11 mph; clear or few clouds in 30% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 57%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F7 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 in6 of 30
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below9 of 30
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more2 of 30
Average days per April, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in April
Normal precipitation is 2.9 in; a dry April brings about 1.9 in and a wet one about 3.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 5.1 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How April varies from year to year
- Warmest April, 1991-20202010: average high 66°F
- Coolest April2018: average high 47°F
- Wettest April2001: 7.0 in
- Driest April1996: 0.8 in
- Highest reading91°F (April 28, 2004)
- Lowest reading5°F (April 4, 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 | 42°F | 57°F | 69°F |
| Normal low | 25°F | 38°F | 50°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 11 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 2 | 7 | 15 |
| Daylight | 11.9 h | 13.5 h | 14.9 h |
Highs change by +15°F from March and +12°F into May.
Nearby alternatives in April
- Warmer: Cedar Rapids, IA221 mi · high 63°F · 11 wet days
- Drier: Fargo, ND214 mi · high 54°F · 8 wet days
- Cooler: Duluth, MN136 mi · high 46°F · 9 wet days
How Minneapolis ranks in April
- Normal high314th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 3 in Minnesota
- Wet days269th driest of 378
- Comfortable days248th most of 340
What to pack for Minneapolis in April
- A warm jacket – lows near 38°F, highs near 57°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – about 5.1 in of snow in a typical year
Frost in April
The last spring frost typically comes around Apr 23; in 1 year in 10 it comes after May 7. All frost dates for Minneapolis.
Heating and cooling
April has 542 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 Minneapolis in April?
The normal high is 57°F and the normal low is 38°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest April reading was 5°F (April 4, 1995).
Does it rain a lot in Minneapolis in April?
About 11 days in April have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.9 in. The wettest April in 1991-2020 was in 2001 (7.0 in); the driest was in 1996 (0.8 in).
Does it snow in Minneapolis in April?
Yes. Normal snowfall in April is 5.1 in, and snow covers the ground on about 2 days.
Is April a good time to visit Minneapolis?
April ranks 6th of 12 months on our comfort score for Minneapolis (59 out of 100). It has about 7 comfortable days. The best months are May and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snow depth, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Minneapolis/St Paul Airport (USW00014922), 6.9 mi SSE of the city center, 872 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall: New Hope (USC00215838), 6.0 mi WNW of the city center, 910 ft (80 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Lower St Anthony Falls (USC00214884), 0.8 mi E of the city center, 754 ft (76 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (726580-14922), 6.8 mi SSE of the city center, 835 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.