Based on the precipitation data of April over Shanxi Province from 1981 to 2023, NCEP/NCAR reanalysis atmospheric circulation and sea surface temperature data, the characteristics and causes of precipitation anomaly over Shanxi Province in April 2023 were summarized and discussed by using empirical orthogonal function decomposition, regression analysis, composite analysis and correlation analysis. The results show that the precipitation over Shanxi Province in April 2023 is 204.4% more than that in the same period of normal years, which is the highest amout in the same period since 1961. The precipitation anomaly is closely related to the atmospheric circulation anomaly caused by the external forcing factor of sea surface temperature. The “− + −” abnormal distribution of the North Atlantic sea surface temperature from north to south in the late winter (January–February) is conducive to the strengthening and maintenance of the “− + − +” abnormal wave train of the 500 hPa geopotential height field from the North Atlantic to East Asia in April, and the convergence of water vapor at 850 hPa to Shanxi. This favorable high-low circulation configuration is the main reason for the abnormal precipitation over Shanxi Province in April 2023.