South Bend weather in April

In April, South Bend sees average daytime highs of 59°F and overnight lows near 40°F, with 4.0 in of precipitation across 12.5 wet days and about 13.1 hours of daylight. It is the 7th-warmest and 4th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 54°F in the first days to 63°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 25% 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 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, April is South Bend's 7th-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see South Bend's year-round climate.

Daytime high
59°
7th warmest
Overnight low
40°
6th coldest
Precipitation
4.0 in
12.5 wet days
Daylight
13 h 06 min
6:12 AM – 7:19 PM
Cloud cover
65%
7th clearest
Wind
9 mph
1st windiest
Solar energy
4.98 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.2
out of 10

South Bend is city and county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States of America.

Density
936/km²
people per km²
Founded
1865

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 54°F in the first days to 63°F by the end.

A typical April day in South Bend reaches about 59°F in the afternoon and slips back to 40°F overnight — a 19°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 44°F and 73°F. Set against its neighbours, April runs about 13°F warmer than March and about 10°F cooler than May.

20°40°60°80°151015202530
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
15335
25436
35436
45536
55537
65537
75637
85638
95638
105738
115739
125839
135839
145840
155940
165940
176041
186041
196041
206142
216142
226142
236143
246243
256243
266244
276344
286345
296345
306445

How April really feels in South Bend

Once humidity and wind are folded in, April averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 10 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
10
wind chill below the day's low

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

South Bend weather by month

How April compares with the rest of the year at a glance. April is the 7th-warmest and 4th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan32° / 20°2.710.99.69.30.0
Feb35° / 21°2.18.35.810.30.0
Mar46° / 30°2.810.93.811.71.3
Apr59° / 40°4.012.51.113.14.2
May69° / 51°4.513.1014.36.0
Jun79° / 61°4.211.80156.3
Jul82° / 65°4.111.7014.76.1
Aug80° / 63°3.810.9013.76.5
Sep74° / 55°3.39.8012.36.8
Oct61° / 44°3.310.50.210.95.0
Nov48° / 34°2.99.72.59.61.7
Dec37° / 26°2.410.46.290.0

Cloud cover in April

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 25% of the time in April.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 12% of April, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 62%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13664
23664
33664
43664
53664
63763
73763
83664
93763
103763
113763
123763
133763
143862
153763
163862
173763
183862
193862
203862
213862
223862
233862
243961
253961
264060
273961
284060
293961
303961

Chance of precipitation in April

Any precipitationSnow

South Bend gets around 4.0 in of rain and snow over 12.5 wet days in April. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 42% and peaks near 43% on the wettest days, and about 1 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202530
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1406
2416
3416
4416
5425
6425
7425
8425
9425
10425
11425
12435
13424
14424
15424
16424
17423
18423
19423
20423
21422
22422
23422
24422
25422
26421
27421
28411
29411
30411

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 95% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
19730
29730
39730
49730
59730
69730
79730
89631
99631
109631
119631
129631
139541
149541
159541
169541
179541
189541
199541
209541
219541
229451
239451
249451
259361
269361
279262
289172
299172
309082

Wind in April

Winds average 9 mph in April, the windiest month of the year.

Across April, daily wind ranges from about 9 mph on the calmest days to 9 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202530
Wind speed (mph)Feels
19light breeze
29light breeze
39light breeze
49light breeze
59light breeze
69light breeze
79light breeze
89light breeze
99light breeze
109light breeze
119light breeze
129light breeze
139light breeze
149light breeze
159light breeze
169light breeze
179light breeze
189light breeze
199light breeze
209light breeze
219light breeze
229light breeze
239light breeze
249light breeze
259light breeze
269light breeze
279light breeze
289light breeze
299light breeze
309light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in April

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 24 min at the start of April to 13 h 42 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 78 minutes over April. Sunrise moves from 6:37 AM to 5:50 AM, and sunset from 7:02 PM to 7:34 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.46:377:02
212.56:357:03
312.56:347:04
412.66:327:06
512.66:307:07
612.76:287:08
712.76:277:09
812.76:257:10
912.86:237:11
1012.86:227:12
1112.96:207:13
1212.96:187:14
1313.06:177:16
1413.06:157:17
1513.16:137:18
1613.16:127:19
1713.26:107:20
1813.26:087:21
1913.36:077:22
2013.36:057:23
2113.36:047:24
2213.46:027:25
2313.46:017:27
2413.55:597:28
2513.55:587:29
2613.65:567:30
2713.65:557:31
2813.65:537:32
2913.75:527:33
3013.75:507:34

Solar energy in April

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in April, about 4.98 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.45 kWh/m² to a high of 6.37 kWh/m² in June across the year — April's 4.98 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.5Bright
24.5Bright
34.5Bright
44.6Bright
54.6Bright
64.7Bright
74.7Bright
84.7Bright
94.8Bright
104.8Bright
114.8Bright
124.9Bright
134.9Bright
144.9Bright
155.0Bright
165.0Bright
175.0Bright
185.1Bright
195.1Bright
205.2Bright
215.2Bright
225.2Bright
235.2Bright
245.3Bright
255.3Bright
265.3Bright
275.3Bright
285.3Bright
295.4Bright
305.4Bright
Planning a trip in April

Is April a good time to visit South Bend?

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

4.2
Sightseeing
7th-best month of the year
0.5
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

April is a reasonable time to visit South Bend for sightseeing.

What to pack for South Bend in April

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

In April, South Bend sees daytime highs around 59°F and nights near 40°F. Worth packing: a warm layer, rain gear and sun protection. About 13 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near South Bend 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 35 mi away) is warmest in August at about 73°F and coldest in March near 36°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 11 to Sep 17 — about 2.3 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
May46Bracing
Jun58Bracing
Jul70Refreshing
Aug73Refreshing
Sep69Refreshing
Oct59Bracing
Nov49Bracing
Dec43Bracing

UV index in South Bend 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 South Bend peaks around June 21 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 2 (low).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJun 21UV 9Dec 19UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May7Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in South Bend 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 South Bend is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.2× the cleanest month (October, 7 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1316 µg/m³Oct 237 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb11Good
Mar13Moderate
Apr13Moderate
May14Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct7Good
Nov7Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is South Bend?

South Bend sits at 41.7°N, 86.3°W, 692 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Mishawaka, 5.0 mi away.

Topography around South Bend

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around South Bend has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 128 ft around an average of 725 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 331 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 614 ft.

The land around South Bend is covered by artificial surfaces (43%) and trees (37%) within 2 miles, trees (40%) and cropland (31%) within 10 miles, and cropland (44%) and trees (29%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
128 ft
10 miles
331 ft
50 miles
614 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
April weather nearby: Mishawaka 5.0 mi · Granger 8.7 mi · Elkhart 14 mi · Goshen 22 mi · La Porte 24 mi · Michigan City 34 mi · Valparaiso 44 mi · Portage 48 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 South Bend (41.6834°, -86.25°, elevation 692 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).