Much-needed rain fell across the South, helping to temper the
effects of hot weather that intensified and shifted westward toward week’s
end. Agriculturally, rain was especially beneficial in the Carolinas, where
many locations received more than 2 inches. Farther north, occasional showers
and moderate temperatures maintained abundant moisture reserves for
reproductive to filling Midwestern summer crops. Some of the week’s heaviest
rain (locally 4 inches or more) soaked the already soggy western Corn Belt on
July 29-30. Meanwhile on the northern Plains, scattered showers caused only
minor small grain harvest delays. Across the remainder of the Nation’s
midsection, late-week heat replaced generally tranquil conditions on the
central and southern Plains. Elsewhere, an active monsoon resulted in locally
heavy rainfall in the Four Corners States, while warm, mostly dry weather
promoted fieldwork and crop development in California and the Northwest. In
fact, near- to above-normal temperatures covered much of the Nation. Cooler
than normal conditions were confined to the immediate Pacific Coast and
scattered locations in the Northeast and Southwest. The Midwest again escaped
the triple-digit heat that stressed pastures, animals, and summer crops in
parts of the South.
Early in the week, flooding continued in parts of the Midwest. In Wisconsin,
the Fox River at Waukesha crested 1.67 feet above flood stage on July 25,
behind only 2.85 feet on June 9, 2008, and 2.00 feet on April 1, 1960. Very
heavy rain returned to parts of the western Corn Belt on July 29-30, when
24-hour totals ranged from 4 to 8 inches in southeastern South Dakota.
July 29-30 totals included 7.36 inches in Wessington Springs, South Dakota,
and 2.93 inches in Sioux City, Iowa. Sioux Falls, South Dakota, received
16.38 inches of rain from June 1 – July 31, breaking the 1993 record of
14.29 inches. Severe thunderstorms accompanied the rain across the
north-central United States. There were two tornado-related fatalities in
Sheridan County, Montana, on July 26, tying a state record that was most
recently set on June 10, 1923. The Sheridan County tornado, rated EF-3
(estimated winds of 150 miles per hour) was Montana’s strongest twister since
July 5, 1988. Meanwhile, beneficial showers dotted the South. Selected
daily-record totals included 4.64 inches (on July 29) in Norfolk, Virginia;
3.15 inches (on July 27) in Abilene, Texas; 2.73 inches (on July 27) in
Vicksburg, Mississippi; 2.66 inches (on July 27) in North Myrtle Beach, South
Carolina; 2.40 inches (on July 27) in Monticello, Arkansas; and 2.38 inches
(on July 25) in Sarasota, Florida. Elsewhere, monsoon showers continued to
expand across the Southwest. Phoenix, Arizona (1.33 inches), received a
daily-record total for July 31. Elsewhere in Arizona, locations completing
their wettest July on record included McNary (8.60 inches), Williams
(7.31 inches), and Fort Valley (5.33 inches).
Intense heat continued early in the week across the Southeast. Norfolk,
Virginia (105 degrees Fahrenheit on both July 24 and 25) tied an all-time
record previously achieved on August 7, 1918. Elsewhere in Virginia, Richmond
(105 degrees Fahrenheit on July 24 and 25) tied a July record previously set
on July 10, 1936, and July 6, 1977. Later, Lakeland, Florida (102 degrees
Fahrenheit on July 28) eclipsed a monthly record previously established with
a high of 100 degrees Fahrenheit on July 11, 1989. Triple-digit, daily-record
highs included 103 degrees Fahrenheit (on July 26) in Athens, Georgia, and
102 degrees Fahrenheit (on July 25) in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina.
Farther west, heat surged northward in advance of a cold front. In Wyoming,
for example, daily-record highs for July 26 included 98 degrees Fahrenheit in
Casper and 97 degrees Fahrenheit in Lander. During the second half of the
week, heat began to shift westward. Nevertheless, Richmond (101 degrees
Fahrenheit on July 29) set a record with its tenth day of triple-digit heat
this year. Richmond’s previous calendar-year record of 9 days had been
established in 1954. In Florida, Tallahassee (103 degrees Fahrenheit on
July 30) experienced its hottest day since June 22, 2009 (also 103 degrees
Fahrenheit) and missed its all-time record by 1 degree. Farther west, San
Angelo, Texas (105 and 107 degrees Fahrenheit), noted consecutive
daily-record highs on July 31 and August 1. Elsewhere on the southern Plains,
both Wichita Falls, Texas, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, experienced their
first 100-degree readings of the year on July 31. In contrast, Western
daily-record lows for July 31 included 39 degrees Fahrenheit in John Day,
Oregon, and 59 degrees Fahrenheit in Los Angeles (LAX), California. Elsewhere
in California, Stockton (54, 52, and 54 degrees Fahrenheit) collected a trio
a daily-record lows from July 28-30.
Showery weather persisted in Alaska, where Northway completed its wettest
30-day period on record. Northway received 9.29 inches from June 25 –
 July 24, surpassing its 30-day standard 6.95 inches set from June 19 –
 July 18, 2005. Alaskan daily-record rainfall totals included 0.67 inch (on
July 25) in King Salmon, 0.78 inch (on July 26) in Anchorage, and 1.24 inches
(on July 28) in Bethel. Farther south, Hawaii experienced little change from
its long-running dry spell. Through July, year-to-date rainfall totaled 40 to
45 percent of normal in locations such as Honolulu, Oahu (4.26 inches);
Lihue, Kauai (9.52 inches); and Hilo (29.99 inches), on the Big Island.
National Weather Summary provided by USDA’s World Agricultural Outlook Board.
For more information, call (202) 720-2397.
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