Highland Park weather in April

In April, Highland Park sees average daytime highs of 46°F and overnight lows near 39°F, with 4.8 in of precipitation across 12 wet days and about 13.1 hours of daylight. It is the 7th-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 43°F in the first days to 50°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 26% of the time in April, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 24 min at the start of April to 13 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, April is Highland Park's 8th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Highland Park's year-round climate.

Daytime high
46°
7th warmest
Overnight low
39°
6th coldest
Precipitation
4.8 in
12 wet days
Daylight
13 h 06 min
5:17 AM – 6:26 PM
Cloud cover
65%
8th clearest
Wind
13 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
5.06 kWh/m²
Travel score
1.3
out of 10

Highland Park is city in Lake County, Illinois, United States.

Density
939/km²
people per km²
Founded
1869

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in April

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs climb over the month, from about 43°F in the first days to 50°F by the end.

A typical April day in Highland Park reaches about 46°F in the afternoon and slips back to 39°F overnight — a 7°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 38°F and 56°F. Set against its neighbours, April runs about 9°F warmer than March and about 12°F cooler than May.

20°30°40°50°60°70°151015202530
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14234
24235
34335
44335
54336
64436
74436
84437
94437
104537
114538
124538
134638
144638
154639
164639
174739
184740
194740
204740
214841
224841
234841
244942
254942
264942
275043
285043
295043
305144

How April really feels in Highland Park

Once humidity and wind are folded in, April averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 17 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
17
wind chill below the day's low

The story in April is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.

Highland Park weather by month

How April compares with the rest of the year at a glance. April is the 7th-warmest and 1st-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan30° / 21°2.99.879.30.0
Feb31° / 21°2.47.75.110.30.0
Mar37° / 29°3.09.83.211.60.0
Apr46° / 39°4.8121.413.11.3
May58° / 50°4.111.7014.44.1
Jun71° / 64°3.510.50156.5
Jul78° / 70°3.110.5014.86.8
Aug77° / 70°3.810.7013.77.0
Sep71° / 63°3.39.5012.36.8
Oct58° / 51°4.010.50.110.84.4
Nov46° / 39°3.4101.39.61.2
Dec36° / 28°3.1104.990.0

Cloud cover in April

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 26% of the time in April.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 13% of April, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 61%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13664
23664
33763
43763
53862
63763
73763
83862
93862
103763
113961
123961
133961
144060
153961
163961
173961
184060
194060
204060
214060
224159
234060
243961
253961
263961
273961
283961
293961
303862

Chance of precipitation in April

Any precipitationSnow

Highland Park gets around 4.8 in of rain and snow over 12 wet days in April, the wettest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 39% and peaks near 41% on the wettest days, and about 1 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202530
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1376
2376
3386
4396
5397
6407
7407
8407
9417
10417
11417
12416
13416
14416
15415
16415
17404
18404
19403
20393
21392
22392
23392
24391
25391
26391
27381
28381
29381
30381

Humidity in April

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of April feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, April lands in the dry band about 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)
11000
21000
31000
41000
51000
61000
71000
81000
91000
101000
111000
121000
131000
141000
151000
161000
171000
181000
191000
201000
211000
221000
231000
241000
251000
26991
27991
28991
29991
30982

Wind in April

Winds average 13 mph in April.

Across April, daily wind ranges from about 12 mph on the calmest days to 13 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202530
Wind speed (mph)Feels
113breezy
213breezy
313breezy
413breezy
513breezy
613breezy
713breezy
813breezy
913breezy
1013breezy
1113breezy
1213breezy
1313breezy
1413breezy
1513breezy
1613breezy
1713breezy
1813breezy
1913breezy
2013breezy
2113breezy
2213breezy
2313breezy
2412breezy
2512breezy
2612breezy
2712light breeze
2812light breeze
2912light breeze
3012light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in April

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 24 min at the start of April to 13 h 48 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 84 minutes over April. Sunrise moves from 5:43 AM to 4:56 AM, and sunset from 6:09 PM to 6:41 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.45:436:09
212.55:416:10
312.55:406:11
412.65:386:12
512.65:366:13
612.75:346:14
712.75:336:15
812.85:316:17
912.85:296:18
1012.95:276:19
1112.95:266:20
1213.05:246:21
1313.05:226:22
1413.05:216:23
1513.15:196:24
1613.15:176:26
1713.25:166:27
1813.25:146:28
1913.35:126:29
2013.35:116:30
2113.45:096:31
2213.45:086:32
2313.55:066:34
2413.55:046:35
2513.55:036:36
2613.65:016:37
2713.65:006:38
2813.74:586:39
2913.74:576:40
3013.84:566:41

Solar energy in April

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in April, about 5.06 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.48 kWh/m² to a high of 6.5 kWh/m² in June across the year — April's 5.06 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.6Bright
24.6Bright
34.7Bright
44.7Bright
54.7Bright
64.8Bright
74.8Bright
84.8Bright
94.8Bright
104.9Bright
114.9Bright
124.9Bright
135.0Bright
145.0Bright
155.1Bright
165.1Bright
175.1Bright
185.2Bright
195.2Bright
205.2Bright
215.3Bright
225.3Bright
235.3Bright
245.3Bright
255.4Bright
265.4Bright
275.4Bright
285.4Bright
295.5Bright
305.5Bright
Planning a trip in April

Is April a good time to visit Highland Park?

Our two travel scores rate April for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

1.3
Sightseeing
7th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

April is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Highland Park.

What to pack for Highland Park in April

From April's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In April, Highland Park sees daytime highs around 46°F and nights near 39°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: a heavy coat, rain gear, sun protection and a windbreaker. About 12 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gearsun protectiona windbreaker

Sea temperature near Highland Park in April

The nearest coast averages about 39°F in April — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 10 mi away) is warmest in August at about 72°F and coldest in February near 36°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 14 to Sep 14 — about 2.1 months when the water holds above 68°F.

30°40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan38Bracing
Feb36Bracing
Mar36Bracing
Apr39Bracing
May44Bracing
Jun56Bracing
Jul69Refreshing
Aug72Refreshing
Sep68Refreshing
Oct58Bracing
Nov48Bracing
Dec42Bracing

UV index in Highland Park in April

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in April peaks around 6 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Highland Park peaks around June 23 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJun 23UV 9Dec 22UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May7Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Highland Park in April

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where April falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Highland Park is worst in July — around 21 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.2× the cleanest month (October, 10 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodJul 921 µg/m³Oct 2410 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan12Moderate
Feb15Moderate
Mar18Moderate
Apr19Moderate
May20Moderate
Jun21Moderate
Jul21Moderate
Aug18Moderate
Sep15Moderate
Oct10Good
Nov10Good
Dec11Good
Location & terrain

Where is Highland Park?

Highland Park sits at 42.2°N, 87.8°W, 696 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Deerfield, 2.5 mi away.

Topography around Highland Park

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Highland Park.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Highland Park has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 167 ft around an average of 646 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 213 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 892 ft.

The land around Highland Park is covered by trees (45%) and water (24%) within 2 miles, water (42%) and trees (30%) within 10 miles, and water (43%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
167 ft
10 miles
213 ft
50 miles
892 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
April weather nearby: Deerfield 2.5 mi · Northbrook 3.7 mi · Lake Forest 5.6 mi · Wheeling 7.5 mi · Glenview 7.5 mi · Buffalo Grove 8.7 mi · Wilmette 8.7 mi · Prospect Heights 9.3 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Highland Park (42.1817°, -87.8003°, elevation 696 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).