The U.S. experienced its warmest April ever based on records dating back to 1895, according to the NOAA's National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. The previous record for the month was set in 1981.

While drier-than-average conditions and severe drought persisted across large portions of the South and Southwest, April was also marked by a series of tornado outbreaks in parts of the Midwest and central Plains, into the Deep South. The global surface temperature was the seventh warmest April on record, in the U.S.

The anomalous warmth was particularly concentrated over the south-central United States. Texas and Oklahoma had their warmest April on record, while New Mexico, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee recorded their second warmest. Twelve other states recorded one of their top five warmest Aprils on record. None of the 48 contiguous states was cooler-than average. However, temperatures across Alaska were cooler than average during April, with a statewide temperature of 0.85° F (0.47° C) below the 1971-2000 mean. The record warmth led to below normal residential energy demand--NOAA scientists determined that the nation's residential energy demand was approximately 12 percent less than what would have occurred under average climate conditions.

Precipitation was near average for the contiguous United States, ranking 45th wettest in the 1895-2006 record. Wetter-than-normal conditions occurred in 12 states, mostly across the western and north central United States. California, Nevada, Idaho and Montana experienced one of their top 10 wettest Aprils on record, continuing a pattern of wetter-than-normal conditions that has persisted in that part of the country for much of the past six months. Heavy rain and snow at the start of the month contributed to flooding in coastal and valley areas of northern and central California, with some locations accumulating more than eight inches above normal monthly precipitation.

A beneficial, late-season heavy snowfall blanketed the Black Hills of South Dakota and surrounding areas April 18-20. Most of the affected area received 12 to 24 inches of snow. More than 60 inches fell in Lead, S.D. High elevations in California continued to have well above normal spring snowpack with some places more than 200 percent of the 1951-2000 average at the end of April. Unusually warm temperatures and rapid snow melt in Wyoming reduced early May snowpack levels there to well below average.

At the end of April, moderate-to-extreme drought affected 31 percent of the contiguous U.S., an increase of 5 percent from March. Drought persisted across much of the south central and southwestern United States, stretching into the western High Plains and Missouri Valley. Drought and abnormally dry conditions also extended from parts of the Northeast to Florida and Gulf coastal areas, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Parts of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and northern Wisconsin were also in moderate drought. Exceptional drought developed during April in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, and persisted in southern Texas.

More complete information is online at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2006/apr/apr06.html.