April will end cool and damp after some sun and a milder to start to the last week of April. For April Ohio looks to finish one to four degrees below normal and that is after a warm start to April. Rainfall should end the month of April above normal in much of the state in the zero to two inch range above normal. The northwest part of the state was up to one inch below normal but will likely end April near normal. Overall, this is a vast improvement over last year.
May is likely to start the month warmer than normal as we discussed last week. However, the pattern is progressive and active so it looks to turn much cooler again for May 5-15 period before turning warmer again the last half to third of May. Rainfall looks normal to two inches above normal for May. Therefore, there will be wet and dry periods in May to allow for periods of planting but it will also not be ideal and any open windows will need to be taken advantage of.
Temperature Outlook
May will average near normal. Summer will be above normal.
Rainfall Outlook
May will average normal to above normal (0 to +2 inches). Summer will go from wet to drier.
Frost/Freeze Outlook
It still appears most of the hard freeze risk is gone but expect a few frost days into early May. Preferred places like low lying areas still will see some temperatures down to around 32, but the chance for below 28 are fairly low. The best chances for lows around 32 the next few weeks will be in northern and eastern Ohio.
Soil Temperature Outlook
Soil temperatures will still remain marginal this week before they climb through the 50s into 60s in the first half of May.
16-Day Rainfall Outlook from NOAA/NWS/Ohio River Forecast Center
https://www.weather.gov/images/ohrfc/dynamic/NAEFS16.apcp.mean.total.png
Official NOAA/NWS/Climate Prediction Center