By Weather Correspondent Chuck Otte
July’s temperatures for the Junction City area were, in fact, above average, but just barely. But because most of the really hot weather occurred at the end of the month, it taints our view. July also had slightly above average rainfall. But since the majority of that rainfall occurred in the first five days, we tend to view the month as being dry.
The average daily high for July was 89.9, a mere two tenths of a degree above normal. The average overnight low was 70.0, 1.5 degrees above normal. This gave us a monthly mean temperature for July of 79.9, eight tenths of a degree above normal. The lowest temperature for the month was 61 on the morning of July 21st. The highest temperature for the month was 106 on the 28th. This reading tied the record high for the date. 106 was first reached in 1956 and again in 2012. That was the only temperature record set or tied during July. Being only 0.8 of a degree above normal indicates it wasn’t a record hot month, fortunately. The hottest July on record was in 1954 when a blistering monthly mean temperature of 87.0 was reached. The second hottest July was more recent, 2012, with a monthly mean temperature of 86.1.
The coldest July on record is a tie between 1950 and 1967 when the region only managed a monthly mean temperature of 73.8.Average July rainfall is 4.14 inches. Thanks to big rains on July 1st and 5th the region totaled 4.34 inches of rain. After the rain on the 5th, however, the area saw less than a half inch of rain the rest of the month. Year to date precipitation has been 17.43 inches, well below the year to date normal of 21.10 inches. Much to many local residents' surprise, the wettest July was NOT in 1951 or 1993, but in 1950 when 13.65 inches of rain flooded the area. (For the record, 12.43 inches of rain fell in July 1951 and 11.53 inches in July 1993. In an interesting twist, July 1992 was actually wetter than July 1993 with 12.32 inches recorded.)
The driest July on record was in 1983 when a mere 0.04 inches barely disturbed the dust in the gauges!August normally gives us slightly cooler temperatures and slightly more rainfall. Average daily highs in August start the month around 89 and have “dropped” to about 87 by the end of the month. Average overnight lows range from 68 on the 1st down to 65 on the 31st. Average August rainfall is 4.55 inches up just a little from July’s 4.14 inches.