The CONUS average temperature was 54.79°F in April 2026 (+3.75°F vs average), marking the third-warmest April on record alongside near-average precipitation and expanding drought conditions.

• CONUS temperatures averaged 54.79°F (+3.75°F vs average), ranking as the third-warmest April in the 132-year record and extending a streak of 15 consecutive months of above-average temperatures.
• More than 700 counties and over 50 million people experienced record-warm conditions, with widespread much-above-average temperatures across the central and eastern U.S., indicating broad geographic intensity.
• The Ohio Valley recorded its warmest April on record, while eight states set new April temperature records and 24 states ranked among their top 10 warmest, highlighting the extent of regional extremes.
• Year-to-date temperatures (Jan–Apr) averaged 44.8°F (+5.7°F vs average), marking the warmest such period on record, while the past 12 months were the warmest on record, indicating persistent long-term warmth.
• CONUS precipitation totaled 2.69 inches (+0.17 inch vs average), ranking in the middle third of the historical record, suggesting overall near-average conditions despite strong regional divergence.
• The Upper Midwest recorded its wettest April on record with roughly twice its average precipitation, while the Southeast experienced its driest April in 40 years at about half of normal levels, reflecting sharp regional contrasts.
• January–April precipitation totaled 7.49 inches (-1.98 inches vs average; 79% of average), ranking as the second-driest start to the year on record, indicating broader dryness despite April’s near-average totals.
• Drought conditions expanded to 61.7% of the CONUS (+1.8 ppts MoM), with severe to exceptional drought covering 43.8%, the largest extent since 2012, and the Southeast reaching a record 99.8% drought coverage, highlighting intensifying dryness risks.
• Assessing the U.S. Temperature and Precipitation Analysis in April 2026