April set all-time records for overall warm temps across the region

April temperatures set all-time records in most locations of the quad state, while rainfall was once again below average for western Kentucky and southwest Indiana.

National Weather Service records showed this year to be the warmest April in Cape Girardeau since records were kept as of 1961; in Paducah since 1938; in Murray since 1926; and in Carbondale since 1899.

No record highs were set in Paducah, but there were 15 days of 80-degree highs. Paducah's usual highs range from 66 on April 1 to 73 on April 30.

Consistently warm morning lows in the 60s included five record warm overnights near 70 degrees. April's average lows in Paducah usually range from 43 on April 1 to 53 on April 30.

Precipitation approached normal amounts west of Cape Girardeau and Carbondale, and along the I-64 corridor west of Mt. Vernon. Only a few pockets in southernmost Illinois and western Kentucky received their average rainfall.

In the rest of southernmost Illinois and nearly all of western Kentucky, rainfall amounts were below average at 1.9 to 3.9 inches. Normal April precipitation ranges from 4.5 to 5.5 inches.

The dry weather trend continued into a sixth month. November through April officially finished as the 2nd driest on record in Paducah, Cape Girardeau, and Carbondale. Amounts were generally 8 to 15 inches below normal in this 6-month period.

You can see the NWS Paducah April climate summary here .