April 2026 General Discussion

[weatherbo]

1 hour ago, roardog said:

It’s interesting how much longer a wooded or forested area can hold onto snowpack. Around here it’s all farm fields so any amount of wind combined with above freezing air will obliterate snow cover while the same conditions in the northern part of the state with all the trees will hold onto snow cover. 

Yes, but there is a big difference between snow cover and snowpack.  The 8-12" snowpack here still holds a 4" water content that is resistant to melt.  The southern sub rarely gets a pack, it's just cover, so the snow is prone to melt regardless of forest or field.

[A-L-E-K]

Word

[roardog]

2 hours ago, weatherbo said:

Yes, but there is a big difference between snow cover and snowpack.  The 8-12" snowpack here still holds a 4" water content that is resistant to melt.  The southern sub rarely gets a pack, it's just cover, so the snow is prone to melt regardless of forest or field.

One of the unusual aspects of this area is that the more urban areas actually develop and keep a snowpack longer because the buildings and houses stop the wind both from blowing it away and the wind from melting it during warmer periods. Of course the ditches will often be the one spot that has deep snow all winter. The snow lasted in the ditches this year until April. 

[OrdIowPitMsp]

Picture perfect April weather after the precipitation fail here yesterday. Low 60s and a deep blue sky.

MTD Precip MSP: 1.96”

YTD Precip MSP: 5.40”

[michsnowfreak]

6 hours ago, roardog said:

It’s interesting how much longer a wooded or forested area can hold onto snowpack. Around here it’s all farm fields so any amount of wind combined with above freezing air will obliterate snow cover while the same conditions in the northern part of the state with all the trees will hold onto snow cover. 

Snowpack is definitely not created equal depending on area. The exact same amount in different areas and the same conditions will do different things. 

[Brian D]

0.22" of rain from overnight showers. Plenty more to come in the next 48 hrs. Damp with temps in the 40's. 

[TheClimateChanger]

 

[cyclone77]

3 minutes ago, TheClimateChanger said:

 

Be sure to check back in with us in late May after we have our below average May.

[A-L-E-K]

Sad but true

[Harry Perry]

1 hour ago, cyclone77 said:

Be sure to check back in with us in late May after we have our below average May.

Yeah not liking the look of May locally. Looks more like late March for much of the month. 

[Jackstraw]

6 hours ago, cyclone77 said:

Be sure to check back in with us in late May after we have our below average May.

I'll take it. With the race at Indy coming a bit early this year a cool to chilly May makes for crazy fast cars!

[michsnowfreak]

7 hours ago, cyclone77 said:

Be sure to check back in with us in late May after we have our below average May.

Not a chance. It will be the same crickets as during the cold winter. Unless the west continues to bake.

[michsnowfreak]

On 4/24/2026 at 1:28 PM, weatherbo said:

Yes, but there is a big difference between snow cover and snowpack.  The 8-12" snowpack here still holds a 4" water content that is resistant to melt.  The southern sub rarely gets a pack, it's just cover, so the snow is prone to melt regardless of forest or field.

We fairly frequently get snowpack with 1-2" water content but rarely more than that. The most water content i can recall was 2014 with about 4-5" water content by late Feb.

[cyclone77]

Hopefully we can get a decent rainfall tomorrow morning with the crapvection, as the afternoon stuff looks like a non-event for this area.  

Been a nice and rainy past month or so, but sort of a drier stretch coming up for the next few weeks.  Still have ground to make up for that abysmal Aug-Feb stretch of dry weather.