July Heat, 2002

For the first time in over a dozen years, the average July temperature in the Twin Cities will finish in the top ten for the period of record 1891-2002. July 2002 was the warmest July in the Twin Cities since 1988. The average temperature for July 2002 was 77.0 degrees in the Twin Cities. July finished tied for 8th place in the period of record from 1891 through 2002.

TOP 10  WARMEST AVERAGE JULY 
TEMPERATURES IN THE TWIN CITIES 1891-2002    
1.)  81.4...1936    
2.)  79.8...1935    
3.)  79.0...1916
4.)  78.1...1988
5.)  78.0...1955       
6.)  77.4...1901/1921     
7.)  77.2...1983  
8.)  77.0...1933/1937/2002         
9.)  76.9...1894
10.) 76.8...1931/1966

Another aspect of this warm month is the mild low temperatures. The average low temperature for July in the Twin Cities was 68.2. This ranks 4th of the all time record. It is the mildest low temperature in July at the Twin Cities since 1936. That year holds the record mildest low temperature with an average of 70.2 for a low.

TOP 10  WARMEST AVERAGE JULY LOW 
TEMPERATURES IN THE TWIN CITIES 1891-2002      
1.)  70.2...1936    
2.)  70.1...1935    
3.)  69.6...1916    
4.)  68.2...2002     
5.)  67.8...1921       
6.)  67.5...1955  
7.)  67.4...1983      
8.)  66.7...1957 (tie) 
8.)  66.7...1931 (tie)        
10.) 66.6...1937

The average maximum temperature for July 2002 didn't even make the top ten and will finish about the same as last year around 85.6 degrees. This will be the second year in a row with a higher than normal number of 90 degree days in a year. As of July 31, the Twin Cities has recorded 16 days of 90 degree highs so far this year. There are 13 on average using the normal period of 1971-2000. Last year the Twin Cities saw 20 days that were 90 degrees or more. If August and September are normal months the Twin Cities will be close to last years total.

July 2002 was wet in the Twin Cities, but not excessively so. While the July 2002 precipitation of 5.19 did not make the top ten, the combined months of June and July did. The combined June and July precipitation amount was 13.49 and that placed it at 6th place from 1891-2002.

TOP TEN PRECIPIATION AMOUNTS
FOR JUNE AND JULY 1891-2002
1.)  19.85...1987    
2.)  18.61...1892    
3.)  16.30...1997    
4.)  14.88...1990    
5.)  13.91...1953       
6.)  13.49...2002   
7.)  13.27...1897      
8.)  13.24...1968 
9.)  11.86...1993       
10.) 11.76...1956

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URL: http://climate.umn.edu/doc/journal/julyheat0207.htm
Last modified: August 1, 2002