In April 2026, persistent troughing dominated the western U.S., while ridging stretched from the southern to eastern regions. This setup brought an active southwest upper-level flow and a busy weather pattern to the Northland, with cooler-than-average temperatures in northern Minnesota and warmer-than-average conditions in parts of northwest Wisconsin.
Average temperatures for April 2026 and departure from normal
International Falls, MN
Average temperature: 36.4 degrees
Departure: -1.7 degrees
Duluth, MN
Average temperature: 37.8 degrees
Departure: -1.7 degrees
Hibbing, MN
Average temperature: 37.6 degrees
Departure: +0.5 degrees
Ashland, WI
Average temperature: 40.7 degrees
Departure: +1.2 degrees
Brainerd, MN
Average temperature: 41.3 degrees
Departure: -1.2 degrees
In April 2026, Duluth saw 17 days with below-average temperatures and 9 days that were warmer than usual.
Precipitation totals for April 2026
Duluth: 3.66″
Hibbing: 2.67″
International Falls: 1.79″
Brainerd: 1.15″
Precipitation anomalies for April 2026
Duluth: +1.13″
Hibbing: +1.06″
International Falls: +0.15″
Brainerd: -0.45″
Note: Duluth’s precipitation total in April 2026 was 145% of normal, a solid surplus for the month.
Percent of normal precipitation for April 2026
April 2026 daily precipitation totals for Duluth, Minnesota
There were 16 days with at least 0.01 inch of precipitation, 5 of which had 0.25 inches or more, and 1 day saw over an inch of rainfall.
April 2026 began snowy in some areas of Northland, but the snow stopped after the first week.
Total snowfall for April 2026
International Falls: 15.0″
Duluth: 8.7″
Departure snowfall for April 2026
International Falls: +5.3″
Duluth: -0.4″
…Severe Weather Stats for April 2026…
The upper Midwest saw an active month of severe weather, with frequent storms hitting areas of Minnesota and Wisconsin.
In April 2026, Minnesota saw 11 tornado reports, with 2 possibly reaching EF2 or stronger. There were also 56 reports of large hail measuring at least 1 inch in diameter, along with 6 reports of damaging winds of 58 mph or more.
In April 2026, Wisconsin saw a total of 35 tornadoes, with 3 potentially reaching EF2 strength or higher. There were also 102 reports of large hail measuring 1 inch or more in diameter, along with 54 reports of damaging winds of at least 58 mph.
Wisconsin usually sees only around two tornadoes in April, so getting 35 reports is definitely an unusually extreme event.
Minnesota usually sees about one tornado in April, so the 11 that occurred last month were far above average.
Wisconsin usually averages 25 tornadoes a year, while Minnesota sees about 45. But by April 2026, Wisconsin has already surpassed its typical annual total—pretty wild!
The top three states for tornadoes in 2026 as of May 1.
- Illinois — 119
- Mississippi — 53
- Oklahoma — 47
Note, with 35 tornado reports so far in 2026, Wisconsin ranks as the fifth highest in the U.S.
Total precipitation ranks for April 2026.
1=Wettest April on record
April 2026 average temperature ranks.
1=Hottest April on record
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