April 2023 Weather and Its Impacts on Missouri

Dr. Pat Guinan
Climatologist
Extension Associate Professor Emeritus

Above average temperatures generally impacted Missouri during the first three weeks of April, Figure 1. Cooler, more seasonable weather rounded out the last ten days of the month. It was the first warmer than average April in four years, Figure 2. Preliminary April data indicate a statewide average temperature of 56.2 °F, 1.7 degrees above the long-term average. Every month this year has been warmer than average, Figure 3. There were exceptions, but most official observers experienced freezing temperatures during the month. Several locations reported their coldest temperatures late in the month, between Apr 23-24, Table 1.

Some Missouri locations where minimum temperature occurred between April 23-24, 2023*
Location	County	Minimum Temp. (°F)	Date
Kirksville	Adair	22°	23
Salem 10W	Dent	23°	23
Smithville Lake	Clay	24°	23
Shelbina	Shelby	24°	23
Rolla-Vichy AP	Maries	24°	23
Rosebud	Gasconade	25°	24
Cole Camp 3NW	Benton	25°	23
Winona 3SW	Shannon	25°	24
Sweet Springs	Saline	26°	24
Sedalia Water Plant	Pettis	26°	23
Buffalo2N	Dallas	26°	23
Round Spring 2SW	Shannon	26°	24
Kearney 3E	Clay	27°	23
Monroe City	Monroe	27°	24
Chesterfield AP	St. Louis	27°	24
Clinton	Henry	27°	24
Billings 1SW	Christian	27°	23
Licking 4N	Texas	27°	23
Waynesfield 2W	Pulaski	27°	23
*NWS Cooperative Weather Station
Table 1.

Many areas in Missouri experienced drier than average conditions during April. Preliminary data indicate a statewide precipitation total of 1.71 inches, 2.26 inches below the long-term average. It was the driest April since 2000, and 4th driest April on record, Figure 4. It was also the first drier than average month for the year, Figure 5.

According to radar estimates, Figure 6, April precipitation totals were heaviest across far southeastern sections where 3-5 inches were common. Totals across much of northwestern, east central and south-central Missouri were between 1.5-3 inches, and lighter amounts, ranging from 0.5-1.5 inches, were common over southwestern, west central, central, north central and northeastern Missouri.

Dryness intensified across parts of Missouri in April. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, a 50-mile-wide corridor of moderate drought stretched from southwest to northeast Missouri, centered on a line from Nevada to Columbia to south of Hannibal, Figure 7.

According to the Missouri Agricultural Statistics Service, for the week ending April 30, corn planting was 80% complete, 39 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average. Stock water supplies were reported mostly adequate at 91%, but 53% of the hay supplies and other roughages were in short to very short supply. About half of the pastures were in fair condition. Topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies were mostly adequate at 57% and 64%, respectively, but a sizeable percentage of topsoil was in short (36%) to very short (5%) condition with subsoil at 30% short and 4% very short.

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Source: Dr. Pat Guinan, 573-882-5908