90° in April? How Unusual This Week’s Heat Really Is

If it feels more like June than April this week… you’re not imagining it.

Rowan County is about to experience a stretch of temperatures that are well above normal for this time of year, with highs climbing into the upper 80s and low 90s by midweek.

How does this compare to normal?

Typical highs for mid-April in Rowan County usually sit in the mid-70s.

This week?

• Tuesday: Upper 80s
• Wednesday & Thursday: Low 90s

That puts us 15 to 25 degrees above average, which is a significant jump for April.

Could records be broken?

It’s possible.

Forecast highs are approaching record levels across the region, and with multiple days of heat expected, some locations could challenge or even break daily records as we head into the middle and end of the week.

Why is this happening?

A strong area of high pressure — often referred to as a “ridge” — is building across the Southeast.

This setup:

• Blocks storm systems from moving in
• Keeps skies mostly clear
• Allows temperatures to climb day after day

At the same time, a “Bermuda High” pattern offshore is helping pull in warmer air from the south.

The result?
A prolonged stretch of dry, warming conditions with no meaningful rain in sight.

What it means locally

This kind of early-season heat has a few impacts:

• Dry conditions continue: No rain means drought conditions won’t improve
• Fire danger remains elevated: Dry air + warm temps = increased risk
• Big temperature swings: Cool mornings, but very warm afternoons

Even though humidity stays relatively low, the intensity of the sun this time of year makes those 90° days feel even warmer.

The bottom line

This isn’t just a warm week — it’s an early taste of summer in April.

And with no rain in the forecast, this pattern is expected to stick around for several more days.