An Extremely Wet July

Just how soaked were we? Over much of Minnesota, precipitation totals were far above the historical averages for July. The Twin Cities metropolitan area was among the wettest regions in the state. In the Metro, the wettest locations were found along a line that extends from Robbinsdale, Golden Valley, and Edina in the west; through south Minneapolis and the International Airport; and into Eagan, Inver Grove Heights and Hastings in the southeast. These areas received 12 to 16 inches of rain for the month of July.

Using data gathered at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, we can place this extraordinary month in the context of history. Below you will find various statistical measures of July's rainfall that will compare the deluge to wet July's of the past.


Greatest Twin Cities Monthly Precipitation for July

  1. July 1987 = 17.90 inches
  2. July 1997 = 12.60
  3. July 1892 = 11.87
  4. July 1900 = 8.15
  5. July 1913 = 7.75

Normal = 3.53 inches


Greatest Twin Cities Monthly Precipitation for Any Month

  1. July 1987 = 17.90 inches
  2. July 1997 = 12.60
  3. July 1892 = 11.87
  4. May 1906 = 10.33
  5. June 1990 = 9.82

For the month of July, the Twin Cities International Airport recorded three daily totals greater than or equal to 2.5 inches. No other YEAR has ever had more than two days that totaled over 2.5 inches.


The rain on July 31 marked the 18th day of measurable precipitation at the International Airport for July, 1997. This is the greatest number of days of measurable precipitation ever recorded during the month of July. The previous record for the Twin Cities was 16.

- Return to the Climate Journal

mcwg@soils.umn.edu
URL: http://climate.umn.edu/doc/journal/wetjul97.htm
Last modified: August 1, 1997