Rochester, MN weather in April
Expect cool weather with frequent rain and some snow in Rochester in April, with highs near 55°F and lows near 35°F. Rain or snow falls on about 12 days. Snowfall averages about 3.3 in.
- Normal high
- 55°F
- Normal low
- 35°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 3.5 in total
- Snowfall
- 3.3 in
- snow on the ground 2 days
How April changes from start to finish
| April 1 | April 30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 48°F | 62°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 41°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 38% | 42% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:50 am / 7:36 pm | 6:02 am / 8:11 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 am38°Fdew point 32°F
- 9 am45°Fdew point 34°F
- Noon51°Fdew point 35°F
- 3 pm53°Fdew point 35°F
- 6 pm51°Fdew point 35°F
- 9 pm45°Fdew point 34°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Rochester Intl Airport (8 mi away); average wind 13 mph; clear or few clouds in 54% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 40%.
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 snow12 of 30
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 30
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below11 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 3.5 in; a dry April brings about 2.1 in and a wet one about 4.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 3.3 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How April varies from year to year
- Warmest April, 1991-20202010: average high 65°F
- Coolest April2018: average high 45°F
- Wettest April2001: 7.3 in
- Driest April2000: 0.9 in
- Highest reading92°F (April 24, 2009)
- Lowest reading6°F (April 4, 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 | 40°F | 55°F | 68°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 35°F | 47°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 12 | 13 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 7 | 14 |
| Daylight | 11.9 h | 13.5 h | 14.8 h |
Highs change by +15°F from March and +13°F into May.
Nearby alternatives in April
- Warmer: Cedar Rapids, IA145 mi · high 63°F · 11 wet days
- Drier: Duluth, MN192 mi · high 46°F · 9 wet days
- Cooler: Duluth, MN192 mi · high 46°F · 9 wet days
How Rochester ranks in April
- Normal high329th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 3 in Minnesota
- Wet days321st driest of 378
- Comfortable days265th most of 340
What to pack for Rochester in April
- A warm jacket – lows near 35°F, highs near 55°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
- Waterproof boots – about 3.3 in of snow in a typical year
Frost in April
The last spring frost typically comes around Apr 30; in 1 year in 10 it comes after May 13. All frost dates for Rochester.
Heating and cooling
April has 596 heating degree days and 2 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 7% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Rochester in April?
The normal high is 55°F and the normal low is 35°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest April reading was 6°F (most recently on April 4, 2018).
Does it rain a lot in Rochester in April?
About 12 days in April have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.5 in. The wettest April in 1991-2020 was in 2001 (7.3 in); the driest was in 2000 (0.9 in).
Does it snow in Rochester in April?
Yes. Normal snowfall in April is 3.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 2 days.
Is April a good time to visit Rochester?
April ranks 6th of 12 months on our comfort score for Rochester (57 out of 100). It has about 7 comfortable days. The best months are May, June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Rochester Intl Airport (USW00014925), 8.2 mi S of the city center, 1,304 ft (280 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Rochester International Airport (726440-14925), 8.2 mi S of the city center, 1,305 ft (281 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.