April 2026 Is On Track to Be One of the Warmest Ever Recorded Across the US With Some Districts Hitting Warmest Since 1893
UNITED STATES — April 2026 is set to go down as one of the warmest Aprils ever recorded across large portions of the country, with multiple climate districts ranking at or near rank 1 — the warmest on record out of 134 years of data dating back to 1893. The data, generated on April 29, 2026, covers the period from March 31 through April 28, 2026.
Historic Warmth Dominates the East and South
The average temperature rank map shows an overwhelming dominance of deep red across the South, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley, and much of the East, indicating temperatures ranking among the very warmest in the historical record. Dozens of climate districts across this region show ranks of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 out of 134 years — meaning this April sits at or near the top of the all-time warmest list for those areas.
The most extreme warmth rankings are concentrated across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, Kentucky, and the Mid-Atlantic states, where rank 1 values appear repeatedly across the map.
The Coldest April on Record in Parts of the Northwest
In sharp contrast, portions of the Pacific Northwest are recording ranks in the 100s to 134, placing this April among the coldest on record for those climate districts. Values of 129, 124, and similar high ranks appear across parts of the Northwest, reflecting a dramatically different temperature story on the opposite side of the country.
What May Could Bring — A Remarkable Reversal
Despite April 2026 ranking as one of the warmest ever across the Midwest and Ohio Valley, the current May outlook points toward a significant reversal. There is a very good chance that parts of the Midwest and Ohio Valley will end up colder in May than they were in April on average — an unusually sharp seasonal swing that would be historically notable for the region.
A Record That Has Stood Since 1893
The ranking system used in this data spans 134 total years from 1893 through 2026. A rank of 1 means the warmest temperature average ever recorded for that climate district across that entire period. The widespread appearance of rank 1 values across the eastern half of the country makes April 2026 a historically significant warm month for the United States.
Stay with CabarrusWeekly.com for continuing coverage of this record-breaking April and what the upcoming May pattern could bring across the country.
