(Area) Dryer than normal conditions prevailed over much of Iowa throughout July.
State Climatologist Justin Glisan reports the preliminary statewide precipitation average at 2.96″ or more than 1.5″ below normal. Warmer than normal temperatures were recorded with a statewide average of 75.6 degrees which is two degrees above normal. “Atlantic’s high temperature of 93 degrees occurred on the 8th, 17th, and 25th. The coldest overnight low of 54 degrees occurred on the 16th. The average high was 88 degrees and that’s two degrees warmer than normal. The average low was 63 degrees and that’s one degree above normal. Atlantic also received 1.8″ of rainfall and that’s a little over 3″ below normal. The highest 24 hour rainfall was .58″ and that was reported on July 1st.”
Measurable rain fell on twelve days of the month, but some of those were just a trace amount. An elevated signal for warmer temperatures is ahead along with near normal rainfall chances for the near term. “We are seeing elevated probability of both cooler and wetter conditions which would be great.”
The overall August outlook could bring some changes in the weather pattern over June and July.
June and July were both quiet months for severe weather. ” Pretty quiet on that front and this ties into thunderstorm activity.”
Glisan says there were a couple of high wind and hail events in Iowa that brought damage in eastern Iowa early in July. While much of the state has been short on precip, the southern two tiers of counties in Iowa have seen above average rainfall over the last 30 days.
