...1909... The wind gusted to 53 miles per hour at Newport, Rhode Island on this day, breaking the record of 32 miles per hour set in 1899.

...1918... A big spring snowstorm buried the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia with 34 inches of snow at Wardensville, 30 inches at Moorefield, and 29 inches at Romney.

...1919... A tornado swarm in northern Texas resulted in the deaths of 64 persons.

...1926... The lightning-set oil depot fire near San Luis Obispo CA boiled over and engulfed 900 acres. Many tornado vortices resulted from the intense heat of the fire. One such tornado traveled 1000 yards, picked up a house and carried it 150 feet, killing the two occupants inside.

...1929... A record heat wave hit the East. It was the earliest 85 degree reading on record at New York City.

...1956... At Newport, Rhode Island the barometric central pressure fell to 29.07 inches, breaking the record of 29.48 inches set in 1954.

...1972... The temperature dipped to 23 degrees at Newport, Rhode Island on this day, breaking the previous record of 29 degrees set in 1912 and 1920.

...1973... A severe storm brought high winds and heavy snow to Iowa. Belle Plain received 20 inches of snow, and 19 inches blanketed Dubuque, record totals for both locations for so late in the season. Snow drifts up to sixteen feet high closed highways.

...1982... The snow depth was 8 degrees at Newport, Rhode Island, breaking the record of 2 inches set in 1938; the 8 inch depth was tied for the second highest for the month of April.

...1987... A cold front crossing the Northern Plateau and the Northern Rocky Mountain Region produced high winds in northeastern Wyoming. Winds gusting to 69 mph at Sheridan WY downed power lines and caused some property damage.

...1988... Strong northerly winds ushered cold air into the north central U.S. The strong winds, gusting to 60 mph at Rapid City SD and Williston ND, reduced visibilities in blowing dust over the Dakotas.

...1989... Two dozen cities in the southwestern U.S. reported new record high temperatures for the date. Phoenix AZ equaled their record for April of 104 degrees established just the previous day.

...1990... Twenty-two cities reported record low temperatures for the date as readings dipped into the 20s and 30s across much of the eastern U.S. Freezing temperatures severely damaged peach and apple orchards in West Virginia, where prolonged mild weather since January had caused an early blooming of spring vegetation. State and Federal agencies estimated a 50 percent loss in production for peaches and "Delicious Red Apples".

...1991... The temperature rose to 81 degrees on this day at Newport, Rhode Island, shattering the previous record of 72 degrees that was set back in 1929.

...1996... The first of two late season heavy snowfalls in only three days over the Northeast dumped 12 inches of snow at Slide Mountain, New York, 10.2 inches, at Ashburnham, Massachusetts, 7 inches at Falmouth, Massachusetts and 2.6 inches at Newport, Rhode Island, breaking the previous record of 1.9 inches, set in 1973. The 6.1 inches at Binghamton, new York brought its seasonal snowfall total to 131.8 inches -- its snowiest winter ever.

...1998... An F5 tornado tracked 31 miles through Tuscaloosa and Jefferson Counties in Alabama. 32 people were killed and 221 were injured. Over 1000 homes were destroyed. The tornado barely missed going through downtown Birmingham.

...2003... A severe thunderstorm with wind-driven hail up to 3 inches in diameter hit Brownsville, Texas, injuring 5 people and doing 50 million dollars in damage. It was one of the most destructive hail events ever for the city.