April 2011 rainfall totals compiled by Dr. Stuart Foster, state climatologist with Kentucky Mesonet

Statewide, precipitation averaged 11.88 inches for the month. This total exceeded the previous record of 7.61 inches in 1972 by more than 4 inches. 

The wettest month of the year on record is January 1937, when precipitation averaged 16.13 inches across Kentucky. That month marked the historic Ohio River flood that inundated Louisville, Paducah and many other cities.

Precipitation was well distributed throughout the month of April but was particularly abundant in the final third. Many Kentucky Mesonet stations recorded more than 1 inch of rain on at least five days during the month. The greatest amount of precipitation for one day was 6.00 inches at Benton in Marshall County on April 24. A total of that magnitude or more would be expected to occur approximately once in 20 years. 

The table below contains precipitation totals for Kentucky Mesonet stations organized by area development district. The Kentucky Mesonet, housed and operated by the Kentucky Climate Center in the Department of Geography and Geology at WKU, is the office source of climatological observations for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Not included in the data are precipitation totals for the first three days of May, which exceeded 5 inches in areas of the lower Ohio River Valley and in the Jackson Purchase region. (ed. note: this does not include Daviess County)

ADDCountyPrecipitation (inches)April 20-28          April 1-30
Barren RiverAllen4.1610.48
 Barren4.499.77
 Hart5.2513.43
 Logan6.9411.93
 Metcalfe3.7510.09
 Warren5.5010.81
Average  5.0211.08
Big SandyJohnson1.888.30
 Pike0.788.34
Average  1.338.32
BluegrassClark4.3212.38
 Fayette5.5013.27
 Franklin6.7012.85
 Harrison5.7211.22
 Lincoln3.6110.89
 Madison3.8410.20
 Mercer5.2812.17
 Nicholas5.8112.66
Average  5.1011.95
Buffalo TraceLewis5.9113.01
 Mason5.5611.66
Average  5.7412.33
Cumberland ValleyJackson2.478.58
 Knox2.308.48
Average  2.388.53
FivcoLawrence2.458.31
Average  2.458.31
GatewayMorgan2.809.52
 Rowan4.0812.42
Average  3.4410.97
Green RiverHenderson8.9613.27
 McLean8.1412.52
 Ohio11.1416.33
 Union10.8014.64
Average  9.7614.19
ADDCountyPrecipitation (inches)April 20-28          April 1-30
KIPDABullitt8.1813.94
 Oldham9.0014.19
 Shelby8.2514.25
Average  8.4814.13
Kentucky RiverBreathitt2.5211.01
 Knott1.536.72
 Owsley2.448.89
Average  2.168.88
Lake CumberlandAdair3.1410.22
 Casey3.1310.85
 Clinton3.5610.26
 Cumberland4.5410.22
 McCreary4.1612.14
 Taylor4.6712.78
Average  3.8711.08
Lincoln TrailBreckinridge9.6115.77
 Grayson10.5716.27
 Hardin10.2516.29
Average  10.1416.11
Northern KentuckyBoone5.3113.71
 Campbell4.4611.95
 Carroll7.3913.36
 Owen6.3212.90
Average  5.8712.98
PennyrileCaldwell11.4816.56
 Crittenden9.4413.66
 Hopkins8.6013.03
 Trigg7.8913.33
Average  9.3513.59
PurchaseCalloway6.6812.09
 Fulton9.8813.68
 Graves8.6912.88
 Marshall11.8616.44
Average  9.2813.77
    

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