This report describes the typical weather at the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) weather station over the course of an average April. It is based on the historical records from 1974 to 2012. Earlier records are either unavailable or unreliable.
Amsterdam has a mild humid temperate climate with warm summers and no dry season. The area within 25 mi of this station is covered by croplands (62%), oceans and seas (27%), and built-up areas (8%).
The month of April is characterized by rising daily high temperatures, with daily highs increasing from 52°F to 59°F over the course of the month, exceeding 70°F or dropping below 44°F only one day in ten.
Over the course of April, the length of the day is rapidly increasing. From the start to the end of the month, the length of the day increases by 1:53 hours, implying an average day-over-day increase of 3.8 minutes.
The shortest day of the month is April 1 with 13:00 hours of daylight; the longest day is April 30 with 14:53 hours of daylight.
The earliest sunrise is at 6:12am on April 30; the latest sunset is at 9:05pm on April 30; the latest sunrise is at 7:15am on April 1; the earliest sunset is at 8:15pm on April 1.
Daylight savings time is observed in 2012 but it neither starts nor ends in April, so the entire month is in daylight time.
The median cloud cover ranges from 63% (partly cloudy) to 73% (partly cloudy). The trend is for the sky to be clearing with the median cloud cover decreasing by 10% from the start to the end of the month.
On April 15, a representative day, the sky is clear or mostly clear 35% of the time, partly cloudy 16% of the time, and mostly cloudy or overcast 41% of the time.
The probability that precipitation will be observed at this location varies throughout the month. Precipitation is most likely around April 1, occurring in 63% of days. Precipitation is least likely around April 26, occurring in 58% of days.
Throughout April, the most common forms of precipitation are moderate rain and light rain.
Moderate rain is the most severe precipitation observed during 64% of those days with precipitation. It is most likely around April 1, when it is observed during 39% of all days.
Light rain is the most severe precipitation observed during 12% of those days with precipitation. It is most likely around April 29, when it is observed during 8% of all days.
The likelihood of snow falling is highest around April 1, occurring in 7% of days.
Either snow rarely accumulates at this location in April or snow depth measurements are unavailable or unreliable.
The relative humidity typically ranges from 57% (mildly humid) to 95% (very humid) over the course of a typical April, rarely dropping below 38% (comfortable) and reaching as high as 100% (very humid).
The air is driest around April 29, at which time the relative humidity drops below 67% (mildly humid) three days out of four; it is most humid around April 1, rising above 93% (very humid) three days out of four.
Dew point is often a better measure of how comfortable a person will find the weather than relative humidity because it more directly relates to whether perspiration will evaporate from the skin, thereby cooling the body. Lower dew points feel drier and higher dew points feel more humid.
Over the course of a typical April, the dew point typically varies from 35°F (dry) to 48°F (dry) and is rarely below 27°F (dry) or above 55°F (very comfortable).
Over the course of April typical wind speeds vary from 4 mph to 18 mph (light breeze to fresh breeze), rarely exceeding 28 mph (strong breeze).
The highest average wind speed of 12 mph (gentle breeze) occurs around April 1, at which time the average daily maximum wind speed is 18 mph (fresh breeze).
The lowest average wind speed of 11 mph (gentle breeze) occurs around April 19, at which time the average daily maximum wind speed is 17 mph (moderate breeze).