April is one of the cooler months of the year in Washington, with average highs near 16°C and lows around 3.7°C (mean 9.9°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 89 mm of rainfall and 78% 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 12.9°C — while the coldest was 1982 at 6.7°C. Typical April days reach 16°C with nights near 3.7°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
April is about average for rainfall in Washington, averaging 89 mm of rainfall. The wettest April on record was 2011 with 175 mm, while the driest was 1982 at 38 mm.
Relative humidity in Washington during April averages 78%. The most humid April was 2011 at 85%, and the least humid was 2023 at 73%.
April receives about 4.6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Washington. The sunniest April was 2006 at 5.2 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2011 at 3.5.
Average wind speed in Washington during April is 0.1 m/s. The windiest Aprils were 2016, 2021 and 2023, among others at 0.2 m/s, while the calmest were 2022, 2024 and 2025, among others at 0.1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 9.0°C | 9.3°C | 10.4°C | 10.4°C | 10.3°C | +1.3°C |
| Avg High | 15.1°C | 15.4°C | 16.6°C | 16.7°C | 16.4°C | +1.3°C |
| Avg Low | 3.0°C | 3.2°C | 4.2°C | 4.2°C | 4.2°C | +1.2°C |
| Avg Rain | 90 mm | 84 mm | 84 mm | 90 mm | 102 mm | +12 mm |
April temperatures in Washington have risen by about 1.6°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
April has ranged from a record low of -9.9°C (1982) to a record high of 28.5°C (2002).
Rainfall in April is about average for rainfall, averaging 89 mm, with a wettest year of 175 mm.
A good time to visit Washington
April is a good time to visit Washington, with days averaging 16°C and nights around 3.7°C (mean 9.9°C, close to Washington's yearly average) and higher rainfall. August and July 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 | 17.4°C | 11.3°C | 5.2°C | 27.1°C | -5.3°C | 123 mm | 76% | 0.1 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2024 | 18.1°C | 12.2°C | 6.4°C | 26.2°C | -2.2°C | 173 mm | 81% | 0.1 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2023 | 18.0°C | 11.2°C | 4.4°C | 27.4°C | -3.1°C | 51 mm | 73% | 0.2 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2022 | 14.6°C | 8.7°C | 2.9°C | 27.0°C | -4.3°C | 74 mm | 78% | 0.1 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2021 | 16.3°C | 10.3°C | 4.2°C | 25.4°C | -6.9°C | 56 mm | 75% | 0.2 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2020 | 13.9°C | 8.0°C | 2.2°C | 22.7°C | -4.3°C | 132 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2019 | 17.7°C | 11.9°C | 6.1°C | 24.1°C | -5.6°C | 88 mm | 81% | 0.1 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2018 | 12.8°C | 6.9°C | 0.9°C | 24.4°C | -4.8°C | 128 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2017 🔥 | 19.1°C | 12.9°C | 6.8°C | 27.8°C | -4.5°C | 94 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2016 | 16.2°C | 9.6°C | 3.1°C | 25.0°C | -6.4°C | 64 mm | 74% | 0.2 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2015 | 16.3°C | 10.3°C | 4.2°C | 23.5°C | -4.6°C | 121 mm | 78% | 0.2 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2014 | 17.0°C | 10.1°C | 3.2°C | 23.7°C | -6.2°C | 88 mm | 76% | 0.1 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2013 | 16.4°C | 10.3°C | 4.2°C | 24.9°C | -5.6°C | 53 mm | 77% | 0.1 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2012 | 15.8°C | 9.4°C | 3.0°C | 26.0°C | -2.7°C | 44 mm | 76% | 0.1 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2011 🌧️ | 16.4°C | 11.0°C | 5.6°C | 25.1°C | -2.3°C | 175 mm | 85% | 0.1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2010 | 18.9°C | 11.9°C | 5.0°C | 28.2°C | -2.0°C | 49 mm | 75% | 0.2 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2009 | 16.1°C | 10.0°C | 4.0°C | 27.4°C | -4.5°C | 87 mm | 79% | 0.2 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2008 | 17.7°C | 11.3°C | 5.0°C | 24.3°C | -3.4°C | 79 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2007 | 13.9°C | 8.4°C | 3.0°C | 23.8°C | -5.0°C | 94 mm | 80% | 0.2 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2006 | 18.2°C | 11.4°C | 4.6°C | 25.5°C | -4.1°C | 82 mm | 75% | 0.2 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2005 | 16.3°C | 10.3°C | 4.3°C | 23.8°C | -1.4°C | 72 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2004 | 15.4°C | 9.8°C | 4.2°C | 24.8°C | -5.7°C | 112 mm | 82% | 0.1 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2003 | 17.0°C | 10.4°C | 3.8°C | 25.2°C | -4.9°C | 64 mm | 78% | 0.1 m/s | 5 |
| 2002 | 17.0°C | 10.8°C | 4.6°C | 28.5°C | -4.8°C | 91 mm | 77% | 0.1 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2001 | 18.3°C | 11.7°C | 5.0°C | 26.2°C | -3.7°C | 74 mm | 76% | 0.1 m/s | 5 |
| 2000 | 16.4°C | 9.7°C | 3.0°C | 23.8°C | -3.2°C | 82 mm | 76% | 0.2 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1999 | 17.5°C | 11.0°C | 4.6°C | 24.5°C | -3.5°C | 95 mm | 75% | 0.1 m/s | 5 |
| 1998 | 16.3°C | 9.9°C | 3.6°C | 21.3°C | -3.5°C | 111 mm | 77% | 0.2 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1997 | 13.5°C | 7.1°C | 0.8°C | 21.1°C | -6.6°C | 38 mm | 75% | 0.2 m/s | 5 |
| 1996 | 14.2°C | 8.2°C | 2.2°C | 22.8°C | -5.0°C | 103 mm | 81% | 0.1 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1995 | 14.5°C | 8.1°C | 1.7°C | 21.9°C | -7.5°C | 86 mm | 77% | 0.2 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1994 | 17.2°C | 10.4°C | 3.6°C | 25.3°C | -4.9°C | 97 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1993 | 14.6°C | 8.4°C | 2.1°C | 23.9°C | -3.7°C | 88 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1992 | 14.9°C | 9.4°C | 3.9°C | 24.7°C | -5.0°C | 55 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1991 | 16.6°C | 11.2°C | 5.7°C | 25.1°C | -4.4°C | 95 mm | 83% | 0.1 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1990 | 15.1°C | 9.3°C | 3.4°C | 28.4°C | -5.2°C | 71 mm | 75% | 0.2 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1989 | 13.8°C | 7.7°C | 1.6°C | 22.4°C | -5.1°C | 66 mm | 77% | 0.2 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1988 | 14.9°C | 8.6°C | 2.3°C | 24.1°C | -4.1°C | 68 mm | 76% | 0.1 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1987 | 14.5°C | 8.9°C | 3.2°C | 27.9°C | -6.1°C | 122 mm | 82% | 0.1 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1986 | 16.5°C | 10.5°C | 4.4°C | 27.4°C | -4.7°C | 69 mm | 79% | 0.2 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1985 | 17.5°C | 11.6°C | 5.7°C | 27.8°C | -6.7°C | 41 mm | 77% | 0.2 m/s | 5 |
| 1984 | 14.2°C | 8.5°C | 2.9°C | 24.9°C | -4.4°C | 119 mm | 82% | 0.1 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1983 | 13.7°C | 8.3°C | 2.9°C | 23.8°C | -5.1°C | 139 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 ❄️ | 13.8°C | 6.7°C | -0.3°C | 23.5°C | -9.9°C | 38 mm | 74% | 0.2 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 17.2°C | 10.5°C | 3.9°C | 23.8°C | -5.9°C | 150 mm | 77% | 0.2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded April data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in April is around 16°C with lows near 3.7°C (mean 9.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
April averages 89 mm of rainfall in Washington, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 175 mm in 2011.
The hottest April reached 28.5°C in 2002. The coldest dipped to -9.9°C in 1982.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average April temperatures have risen by about 1.6°C. Daytime highs moved from 15.3°C to 16.9°C and overnight lows from 3°C to 4.6°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 16°C daytime highs and 3.7°C at night.
Not quite — April is the 6th coolest month in Washington, averaging 9.9°C.
For April in Washington, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 16°C and lows of 3.7°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in April averages 78% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in April is 0.1 m/s. The windiest April on record averaged 0.2 m/s (1981).
The wettest April on record was 2011 with 175 mm. On average, April sees 89 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.
