NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY

JULY 2018

1-7: Much of Lower Michigan also remained dry. Near- to above-normal temperatures covered the entire country, perpetuating a pattern that developed in early May. In the Southwest, pre-monsoon heat boosted temperatures more than 5°F above normal in
some locations, although late-week cloudiness and showers began to suppress temperatures and reduce the wildfire threat. Hot weather also prevailed for much of the week from the mid-South into the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic States. The hottest
weather, relative to normal, affected New England, where temperatures averaged as much as 10°F above normal. Meanwhile, mostly dry weather dominated California, the Great Basin, and the Northwest, accompanied by a late-week heat wave that boosted
irrigation demands and maintained an elevated risk of wildfires. By week’s end, approximately three dozen Western wildfires, in various stages of containment, had collectively destroyed nearly 500 structures.

For much of the week, heat plagued the Northeast. Vermont’s highest peak, Mount Mansfield, tied an all-time record with highs of 84°F on July 2 and 4. New England’s highest mountain, 6,288-foot Mount Washington, NH, tied a monthly record with a
high of 71°F on July 5—and missed its all-time record by 1°F. Elsewhere in the Northeast, daily-record highs for July 1 soared to 98°F in Allentown, PA, and 97°F at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. Burlington, VT, posted a daily-record high of 97°
F on July 2. On July 4-5, Augusta, ME, logged consecutive daily-record highs of 93°F. Other record setting highs in Maine for July 5 included 95°F in Millinocket and 94°F in Caribou and Houlton. Heat extended as far west as Michigan, where daily-
record highs reached 97°F (on July 1) in Pellston and 96°F (on July 5) in Detroit. In contrast, cool air briefly settled across the northern High Plains and the Northwest, preceded by gusty winds. A wind gust to 66 mph were clocked on July 3 in Big
Piney, WY. Also on July 3, Eugene, OR, set a monthly record with a low of 38°F (previously, 39°F on July 5, 1986, and several earlier dates). On the same date in Montana, daily-records dipped to 39°F in Turner and 41°F in Great Falls. Late in the
week, a fierce but short-lived heat wave developed across coastal southern California. On July 6, all-time-record high temperatures were broken in California locations such as Burbank (114°F; previously, 113°F on September 12, 1971) and UCLA (111°F;
previously, 109°F on September 20, 1939). Also on the 6th, an all-time record of 118°F was tied in Riverside, CA. Riverside previously attained 118°F on July 17, 1925. California locations reporting consecutive daily record highs on July 6-7
included Woodland Hills (117 and 113°F) and downtown Los Angeles (108 and 104°F). Farther inland, the week ended on July 6-7 with a pair of daily-record highs in Wyoming locations such as Lander (97 and 98°F) and Rock Springs (94 and 95°F).

8-14: Mostly dry weather also prevailed in the Northwest, accompanied by above normal temperatures. In fact, heat dominated the northwestern half of the U.S., resulting in weekly temperatures averaging 5 to 10°F above normal from the Pacific Coast
States into the upper Midwest. High temperatures of 100°F or higher were noted in scattered to widespread locations across the western and central U.S. Aided by a few showers, firefighters neared full containment of two of season’s most destructive
Western wildfires. In Colorado, the 108,000-acre Spring Creek fire destroyed 225 structures near Fort Garland, while in Utah, the 57,000-acre Dollar Ridge burned 438 buildings southeast of Heber. Near Paradise Valley, NV, the fast moving Martin fire
scorched more than 435,000 acres of brush and grass, becoming the largest wildfire in modern state history. Hot weather gripped much of the West, resulting in several daily-record highs. Triple-digit, daily record highs included 100°F (on July 10) in
Buffalo, WY, and 103°F (on July 12) in Montague, CA. On July 8-9, consecutive daily-record highs were set in Gateway, CO (103 and 101°F), and Provo, UT (also 103 and 101°F). Scattered daily records in other regions included 96°F (on July 9) in
Naples, FL, and 90°F (on July 10) in Muskegon, MI. Conversely, daily-record lows for July 10 dipped to 56°F in North Carolina locations such as New Bern and Elizabeth City. Saranac Lake, NY, collected a daily record low of 40°F on July 13.

15-21: Searing heat and mostly dry conditions stressed livestock and resulted in rapid deterioration of pastures and summer crops in the south-central U.S. Very hot weather also gripped the West, where monsoon-related showers temporarily waned and
dozens of wildfires were in various stages of containment. Year-to-date U.S. wildfires have burned some 3.9 million acres of vegetation, above the 10-year average of 3.5 million acres. Weekly temperatures averaged as much as 10°F above normal in an
area stretching from northern California to northern Texas. Around mid-week, a surge of cool air into the Midwest and Northeast led to a smattering of daily-record lows. Record setting lows for July 19 dipped to 35°F in Saranac Lake, NY, and 43°F in
Montpelier, VT. The Northeastern cool spell replaced previously hot conditions, which had led to daily-record highs for July 16 in Burlington, VT (96°F), and Massena, NY (93°F). Early-week warmth also affected the Pacific Northwest, where Seattle, WA,
collected a daily-record high of 93°F on July 15. Meanwhile, heat began to build across the southern Plains and neighboring areas. From July 17-23, Waco, TX, registered seven consecutive daily-record highs (106, 108, 108, 109, 108, 109, and 114°F).
Prior to this year, Waco’s highest-ever July temperature had been 109°F on July 12, 1998. Elsewhere in Texas, four daily-record highs in a row occurred from July 19-22 in locations such as Wichita Falls (112, 112, 111, and 112°F) and Borger (109,
109, 107, and 108°F). Shreveport, LA, also logged four daily-record highs (104, 104, 106, and 108°F) from July 19-22. In addition, Shreveport’s high of 108°F (on July 22) edged its former monthly record of 107°F, set on July 31, 1998, and several
earlier dates. Lawton, OK, tallied a trio of daily-record highs (111, 112, and 110°F) from July 20-22.

22-28: Cool but mostly dry weather overspread the Corn Belt, favoring reproductive to filling corn and soybeans— except in areas with lingering soil moisture shortages. Cool air eventually encompassed large sections of the Plains and mid-South.
However, heat persisted through week’s end across much of Texas, as well as the Great Basin, Desert Southwest, and Pacific Coast States. Western weekly temperatures averaged as much as 10°F above normal. Including Alaska, more than 100 Western
wildfires were active at the end of July, with some of the most dangerous blazes burning in the Pacific Coast States. Meanwhile in the Desert Southwest, Thermal, CA, noted three consecutive daily-record highs (122, 122, and 119°F) from July 23-25.
Death Valley, CA, attained 127°F from July 24-27, setting a daily-record high each day. Elsewhere in California, Redding notched a daily-record high of 113°F on July 26. Redding last received measurable rain about 2 months ago, on May 26. Heat also
extended into Arizona and the Northwest. On July 24, daily-record highs in Arizona soared to 118°F in Yuma; 116°F in Phoenix; and 112°F in Tucson. The following day, record setting highs for July 25 climbed to 101°F in Roseburg, OR, and 93°F in
Olympia, WA. Farther east, the week opened in the midst of a record-setting heat wave in the south-central U.S. Shreveport, LA, registered a high of 108°F on July 22, eclipsing its monthly record of 107°F that had been set on July 16 and 17, 1875;
July 13, 1901; and July 31, 1998. From July 17-23, Waco, TX, logged seven consecutive daily-record highs (106, 108, 108, 109, 108, 109, and 114°F). Prior to this year, Waco’s highest-ever July temperature had been 109°F on July 12, 1998, and its
all-time record had been 112°F on August 11, 1969. Elsewhere in Texas, a monthly record high was broken in Austin on July 23, with a high of 109°F. Extreme heat lingered through July 24 in southern Texas, where daily records included 110°F in Del
Rio and 109°F in McAllen. In contrast, Fargo, ND, reported a daily record-tying low of 46°F on July 26.

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