Tucson – Average July high temperature 19th coldest on record

Last month was the 15th wettest, and the 38th coolest July in Tucson, Arizona, since records began.

And when it comes to the HIGH temperature, average July high temperature turned out to be the 19th coldest on record

(Excerpts) – On the 4th, thunderstorms produced very heavy rain with isolated areas, like in Oro Valley, recording over 3 inches of rain in about one hour. The high temperature of 86° at the airport on the 4th broke the daily record low maximum temperature of 90° which first occurred in 1912 and was later tied in 1962. The airport also set a daily rainfall record on the 4th when 0.78″ was recorded. This broke the record of 0.70″ which occurred in 1921.

The most active/wet period of the month occurred from the 14th to the 16th with severe thunderstorms, heavy rain and flash flooding impacting the area on the 15th and 16th. For this three day period, the airport recorded 2.50″, which ranks as the 12th wettest 3 day period in July for the official recording station in Tucson. All three days individually recorded over a half an inch of rain at the airport, which sets a new July consecutive day record for the official recording site in Tucson. The old record was 2 days, last occurring in 1972 (July 15-16).

The remainder of the month was cooler than normal with the airport hitting triple digits only twice, on the 18th and the 27th. Severe thunderstorms, heavy rain and flash flooding hit portions of the area on 21st, 28th and 29th.

For the first time since 2004 and the second time since 1984, the airport did not record a high warmer than 105°. Going back to 1895 this is the 21st such occurrence for July. The monthly average temperature of 85.7° is 1.3° below normal and ranks as the 38th coolest July on record (tied with 1922 and 1935). Only ten triple digit highs were recorded in July, which is 8 days below normal. It is the least amount since 2001 when 9 days were recorded with the all-time record low being 5 days from 1999.

The International airport, which is the official recording location for Tucson, recorded 4.13″ which is 1.88″ above normal and ranks as the 15th wettest July on record. The wettest July on record is 6.24″ from 1921. One last interesting rainfall item for July. The airport recorded 5 days with a rainfall total of a half an inch or greater. This is one day shy of the July record of 6 days, which first occurred in 1921 and was later tied in 1981. Those years are the two wettest July’s on record (6.24″ in 1921 and 6.17″ in 1981).

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/twc/climate/monthly/jul12.php

Thanks to Scott Gottilla for this link

“Keep up the good work!” says Scott.