April 15
Today in weather history across America. Records, extremes, and stories from 55+ years of NOAA data.
When April Became July: Minneapolis' Record-Breaking Heat of 2002
Minneapolis, MNStevenndori289 / CC BY-SA 4.0
On April 15, 2002, Minneapolis residents peeled off their winter layers and blinked in disbelief as thermometers soared to 91 degrees Fahrenheit. It was the earliest 90-degree temperature ever recorded in Minnesota history, shattering a psychological barrier that typically arrives months later.
The heat wave was part of a remarkable meteorological event that set maximum temperature records at 52 locations across the Midwest on that single day. Just two weeks earlier, an April Fools snowstorm had dumped more than seven inches of snow on the Twin Cities, injuring 45 people in traffic accidents. The sudden shift from winter to summer caught everyone off guard. In Milwaukee, a man died from heat-related causes after spending time outdoors, his body temperature reaching a deadly 107.6 degrees. The effects rippled through northern Wisconsin and Michigan, where tremendous February and March snow packs suddenly melted under the onslaught of high temperatures and rain. Yet for most Minnesotans, the heat brought welcome relief from a cold, dreary spring, allowing farmers to get field work done and briefly accelerating the growing season.
The extremes of April 2002 would continue to whipsaw residents. Just six days after the record heat, snow returned to parts of Minnesota on April 21, a fitting reminder that spring in the Upper Midwest remains the season of meteorological extremes.
April 15 By the Numbers
Temperature Leaderboard
More From April 15
Joshua Tree National Park / Public domain
Milwaukee hit 88°F on April 15, 2002 - a sweltering spring outlier
April 15 in Milwaukee typically brings mild spring weather with highs near 56°F and lows around 38°F, but 2002 shattered expectations with a record high of 88°F. The wild temperature swings on this date are evident in the 65-degree spread between the record high and the record low of 23°F set just a dozen years later in 2014, showing how unpredictable late April can be in Wisconsin.
Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / Scalable Grid Engine / CC0
Denver's April 15 swings from spring warmth to deep freeze history
April 15 in Denver showcases the city's characteristic temperature volatility, with a mild 65-degree average high offset by a chilly 34-degree low. The historical record spans a striking 83-degree range across 55 years of data, from a blazing 86°F in 2002 to a bone-numbing 3°F in 2001, demonstrating why spring in Denver demands both sunscreen and a winter jacket.
Miscellaneous Items in High Demand, PPOC, Library of Congress / Public domain
NYC's April 15 record: a searing 90°F in 2023 shatters spring norms
New York City experienced an extraordinary temperature swing on April 15, with a record high of 90°F set in 2023 that towers 29 degrees above the seasonal average of 61°F. This anomaly contrasts sharply with the record low of 27°F recorded in 1981, creating a 63-degree range across 55 years of documented weather data. The 2023 spike underscores how dramatically spring conditions can deviate from typical mid-April patterns in the Northeast.
Harper's Weekly / Public domain
Chicago hits 89°F on April 15, shattering spring temperature record
April 15, 2002 delivered an extraordinary spring day in Chicago when the mercury soared to 89°F, far exceeding the typical high of 60°F and standing as the warmest April 15 on record across five decades of data. The record low of 27°F, set in 2014, highlights the dramatic temperature swings possible this time of year, with a 62-degree spread between extremes demonstrating spring's unpredictable nature in the Midwest.