April is one of the cooler months of the year in Washington, with average highs near 17.3°C and lows around 6°C (mean 11.7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 88 mm of rainfall and 77% relative humidity across the period.
April is one of the cooler months of the year in Washington. Across 45 years of records, the warmest April in Washington was 2017 — when the month averaged 15.3°C — while the coldest was 1982 at 9.1°C. Typical April days reach 17.3°C with nights near 6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.6°C per decade.
April is about average for rainfall in Washington, averaging 88 mm of rainfall. The wettest April on record was 1983 with 200 mm, while the driest was 1985 at 11 mm.
Relative humidity in Washington during April averages 77%. The most humid April was 1984 at 83%, and the least humid was 2002 at 70%.
April receives about 5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Washington. The sunniest April was 2010 at 5.8 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1984 at 4.2.
Average wind speed in Washington during April is 3 m/s. The windiest April was 1982 at 3.6 m/s, while the calmest were 1989, 1992 and 2010 at 2.6 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 10.6°C | 10.9°C | 11.9°C | 12.4°C | 12.6°C | +2°C |
| Avg High | 16.2°C | 16.6°C | 17.4°C | 18.1°C | 18.2°C | +2°C |
| Avg Low | 5.0°C | 5.3°C | 6.3°C | 6.8°C | 7.0°C | +2°C |
| Avg Rain | 94 mm | 79 mm | 100 mm | 82 mm | 83 mm | -11 mm |
April temperatures in Washington have risen by about 2.1°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
April has ranged from a record low of -5.1°C (1982) to a record high of 33°C (2002).
Rainfall in April is about average for rainfall, averaging 88 mm, with a wettest year of 200 mm.
A good time to visit Washington
April is a good time to visit Washington, with days averaging 17.3°C and nights around 6°C (mean 11.7°C, cooler than Washington's yearly average) and higher rainfall. June and September are marginally more temperate, but April still suits most travellers.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19.0°C | 13.5°C | 8.0°C | 27.1°C | -2.6°C | 69 mm | 74% | 3.3 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2024 | 18.5°C | 13.4°C | 8.2°C | 29.5°C | 1.4°C | 67 mm | 79% | 2.9 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2023 | 20.8°C | 14.5°C | 8.3°C | 28.7°C | 2.1°C | 99 mm | 72% | 2.8 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2022 | 17.1°C | 11.4°C | 5.6°C | 25.3°C | 0.0°C | 74 mm | 72% | 3.2 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2021 | 17.9°C | 12.1°C | 6.3°C | 27.6°C | -3.3°C | 52 mm | 76% | 3 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2020 | 16.1°C | 10.8°C | 5.6°C | 25.1°C | 0.5°C | 139 mm | 75% | 3.4 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2019 | 19.4°C | 13.9°C | 8.4°C | 24.7°C | -2.6°C | 61 mm | 79% | 3.1 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2018 | 15.7°C | 10.1°C | 4.4°C | 25.5°C | -1.3°C | 93 mm | 73% | 3.4 m/s | 5 |
| 2017 🔥 | 20.9°C | 15.3°C | 9.8°C | 30.4°C | -0.2°C | 73 mm | 76% | 3 m/s | 5 |
| 2016 | 17.0°C | 11.2°C | 5.5°C | 26.0°C | -3.8°C | 47 mm | 74% | 3 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2015 | 17.6°C | 11.9°C | 6.3°C | 24.1°C | -1.5°C | 91 mm | 76% | 3 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2014 | 16.4°C | 10.7°C | 5.1°C | 24.0°C | -2.4°C | 160 mm | 79% | 3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2013 | 17.9°C | 12.1°C | 6.4°C | 27.6°C | -3.6°C | 70 mm | 77% | 3.1 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2012 | 17.6°C | 11.9°C | 6.3°C | 27.6°C | 1.7°C | 56 mm | 72% | 3 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2011 | 18.5°C | 13.2°C | 7.9°C | 27.0°C | 0.3°C | 119 mm | 81% | 3.4 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2010 | 19.5°C | 13.5°C | 7.4°C | 28.5°C | 2.7°C | 53 mm | 77% | 2.6 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2009 | 17.6°C | 12.1°C | 6.5°C | 31.0°C | 0.2°C | 122 mm | 76% | 3.1 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2008 | 17.7°C | 12.7°C | 7.6°C | 26.4°C | 0.4°C | 126 mm | 79% | 2.7 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2007 | 15.4°C | 10.2°C | 4.9°C | 25.8°C | -3.0°C | 116 mm | 77% | 3.3 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2006 | 19.3°C | 13.2°C | 7.2°C | 25.5°C | -0.2°C | 76 mm | 72% | 2.8 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2005 | 17.6°C | 11.7°C | 5.8°C | 26.6°C | 0.6°C | 102 mm | 76% | 2.8 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2004 | 16.9°C | 11.7°C | 6.5°C | 27.7°C | -3.2°C | 136 mm | 80% | 3 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2003 | 16.1°C | 10.8°C | 5.5°C | 26.6°C | -2.3°C | 78 mm | 82% | 3.1 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2002 | 19.6°C | 13.6°C | 7.5°C | 33.0°C | -3.1°C | 83 mm | 70% | 3 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2001 | 18.0°C | 12.2°C | 6.4°C | 27.6°C | -0.3°C | 46 mm | 76% | 2.7 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2000 | 16.3°C | 10.9°C | 5.5°C | 24.0°C | 0.1°C | 116 mm | 80% | 3.2 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1999 | 17.4°C | 11.5°C | 5.5°C | 26.7°C | 1.3°C | 67 mm | 74% | 2.8 m/s | 5 |
| 1998 | 17.0°C | 11.6°C | 6.2°C | 22.6°C | 0.0°C | 95 mm | 79% | 2.7 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1997 | 15.2°C | 9.5°C | 3.8°C | 21.5°C | -4.0°C | 64 mm | 75% | 3.2 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1996 | 15.7°C | 10.3°C | 4.9°C | 25.5°C | -3.1°C | 98 mm | 81% | 3.5 m/s | 5 |
| 1995 | 16.3°C | 10.2°C | 4.1°C | 27.2°C | -4.3°C | 54 mm | 72% | 2.9 m/s | 5 |
| 1994 | 18.5°C | 12.7°C | 7.0°C | 26.4°C | -2.0°C | 68 mm | 81% | 2.8 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1993 | 15.4°C | 9.9°C | 4.4°C | 22.0°C | -2.1°C | 122 mm | 81% | 3.2 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1992 | 15.8°C | 10.5°C | 5.2°C | 23.6°C | -2.1°C | 57 mm | 79% | 2.6 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1991 | 17.6°C | 12.1°C | 6.6°C | 25.8°C | -2.4°C | 59 mm | 81% | 3 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1990 | 16.8°C | 11.1°C | 5.3°C | 29.4°C | -3.5°C | 109 mm | 77% | 2.9 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1989 | 15.5°C | 9.9°C | 4.3°C | 23.4°C | -1.5°C | 98 mm | 76% | 2.6 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1988 | 15.5°C | 10.0°C | 4.5°C | 21.3°C | -0.8°C | 66 mm | 77% | 3.4 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1987 | 15.3°C | 10.3°C | 5.3°C | 25.0°C | -3.4°C | 85 mm | 82% | 3 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1986 | 16.5°C | 11.1°C | 5.6°C | 23.6°C | 0.4°C | 62 mm | 79% | 3 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1985 | 19.1°C | 13.0°C | 6.9°C | 28.2°C | -4.7°C | 11 mm | 73% | 2.8 m/s | 5.4 |
| 1984 | 14.7°C | 9.7°C | 4.7°C | 21.6°C | -1.9°C | 112 mm | 83% | 2.7 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1983 🌧️ | 15.2°C | 10.1°C | 5.0°C | 25.7°C | -1.6°C | 200 mm | 81% | 3.4 m/s | — |
| 1982 ❄️ | 15.4°C | 9.1°C | 2.8°C | 23.4°C | -5.1°C | 107 mm | 72% | 3.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 19.0°C | 12.5°C | 6.0°C | 25.9°C | -1.9°C | 108 mm | 73% | 3.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded April data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in April is around 17.3°C with lows near 6°C (mean 11.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
April averages 88 mm of rainfall in Washington, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 200 mm in 1983.
The hottest April reached 33°C in 2002. The coldest dipped to -5.1°C in 1982.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average April temperatures have risen by about 2.1°C. Daytime highs moved from 16.7°C to 18.7°C and overnight lows from 5.1°C to 7.3°C over the same span.
April is one of the cooler months of the year in Washington and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 17.3°C daytime highs and 6°C at night.
Not quite — April is the 6th coolest month in Washington, averaging 11.7°C.
For April in Washington, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 17.3°C and lows of 6°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in April averages 77% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in April is 3 m/s. The windiest April on record averaged 3.6 m/s (1982).
The wettest April on record was 1983 with 200 mm. On average, April sees 88 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Washington behaves each April, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for April specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
