Why does this spring feel so cold on Long Island?
April 2026 was actually warmer and drier than average - so why did it feel so wet and cold?
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Across Long Island, residents have spent much of April insisting that spring felt unusually cold and persistently damp. But the numbers are in and April 2026 was actually warmer than average. So what's the reason for the contradition? I dive into the numbers.
At first glance, April 2026 was mild
April 2026 average high temperature reached 60 degrees Fahrenheit, 2-degrees above the climate average for Islip, 58F. The average low for April 2026 was rounded to 42-degrees, virtually the same as average.
More frost than usual
One of the most striking features of this April was the number of freezing mornings. Islip recorded four days below 32 degrees, the highest count since 2018. By comparison, April 2025 saw only one such morning, and April 2024 had none. The same was true in 2022, while 2023 recorded just one. These early‑morning freezes reinforced the sense that winter was lingering well past its welcome.
Colder afternoons
The daytime pattern added to that perception. Although temperatures briefly surged into the 80s in mid‑April, marking one of the earliest warm spells on record, those days were the extremes. The month included 11 days that failed to reach 55 degrees, the most in six years. The stretch of cool & damp afternoons were less extreme than the warm spells compared to normal, but much longer lasting.
It was damp... but drought is growing
Rainfall contributed to the overall impression of dampness, even as drought conditions continued to expand across the island. April finished roughly two inches below normal precipitation, yet 18 out of 30 days reported rain. A majority of those days brought drizzle or mist and little to no measurable rain.
Changes ahead?
While no major heat is on the way for early May, temperatures will continue to moderate and chilly days become rare by the end of the month. High temperatures on average are in the mid-60s in early May, but approach the mid-70s by the end of the month.
