July 2012 Climate Summary

For a printable version of the climate summary which includes more figures, data tables, and state summaries, click here. 

Temperature Summary

Hot and dry conditions continued this July across the majority of the High Plains Region. The larger temperature departures occurred in northeastern Wyoming, southern and eastern South Dakota, northern and eastern Nebraska, and central and eastern Kansas where the departures from normal temperature ranged from 6.0-8.0 degrees F (3.3-4.4 degrees C) above normal. There were even a few pockets of eastern Kansas, northern Nebraska, and eastern South Dakota which had temperature departures which were 8.0-10.0 degrees F (4.4-5.6 degrees C) above normal. No station in the Region had monthly average temperatures which were below normal and the continued warm pattern caused many locations across the Region to be ranked in the top 10 warmest Julys on record. One location was Denver, Colorado which had its warmest July on record with an average temperature of 78.9 degrees F (26.1 degrees C). This was 4.7 degrees F (2.6 degrees C) above normal (period of record 1872-2012). The previous record occurred in 1934 with an average temperature of 77.8 degrees F (25.4 degrees C). Interestingly, this was also the warmest month ever recorded in Denver. The previous record also occurred in July 1934. So far this year, Denver as had 13 days at or above 100 degrees F (37.8 degrees C), with 7 of those occurring this month. Previously, the most days at or above 100 degrees F (37.8 degrees C) was 7 in 2005. For more information on July ranking, please see the full climate summary.

Again, this month was just one more month of continued warmth as most of the Region had warmer than normal temperatures each month this year. Eastern portions of the Region have had January-July average temperatures which were 6.0-8.0 degrees F (3.3-4.4 degrees C) above normal. Many locations in this portion of the Region have had the warmest January-July period on record. One of these locations was Topeka, Kansas which had a January-July average temperature of 62.1 degrees F (16.7 degrees C). This was 7.5 degrees F (4.2 degrees C) above normal and easily beat the old record of 58.9 degrees F (14.9 degrees C) set in 1946 (period of record 1887-2012).

The continued hot and dry conditions have taken their toll on many crops and livestock across the Region and beyond. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, by the end of the month 88 percent of all corn, 87 percent of all soybeans, 64 percent of all hay acreage and 72 percent of all cattle were within an area experiencing drought conditions in the United States. Poor pastureland conditions in the High Plains Region have led to the early weaning of calves in some areas and even culling of herds. Some producers have decided to chop the drought damaged dryland corn for silage or hay due to the poor condition of the pastures, which have been providing little to no grazing capacity at this point. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres have been released for emergency use in Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska. In Colorado, irrigated crops have progressed ahead of  schedule; however there were growing concerns over dwindling water reserves. Meanwhile, in Nebraska, irrigators were struggling with the water demands as surface water use was stopped due to low river levels. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), there were some cases in Nebraska where more water had been used by mid-July than what would normally be used in an entire season.

Precipitation Summary

Precipitation was varied across the Region this month. Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota were hit the hardest y the dryness as the majority of each of those states received only 50 percent or less of normal precipitation. Northern and eastern North Dakota and central and eastern Wyoming also received precipitation which was only 50 percent of normal or less. Some locations in Nebraska did not receive any measurable precipitation this month. Norfolk, Nebraska was one of those locations and set a new record for driest July (period of record 1893-2012). To put this record into perspective, Norfolk normally receives over 3 inches (76 mm) of precipitation in July. The old record occurred in 1936 with 0.18 inches (5 mm). Ultimately, Norfolk went a total of 38 consecutive days without measurable precipitation which is quite unusual for this time of year. This ranked as the 14th longest stretch without measurable precipitation on record and was the longest stretch to occur solely in the summer months. The second longest stretch of days without measurable precipitation to occur only in the summer was a 28 day stretch ending on August 2, 1901 (this stretch ranks 51st).

While large areas received little to no precipitation, central Colorado, northwestern South Dakota, and pockets of Wyoming received at least 150 percent of normal precipitation. Boulder, Colorado was one of the wetter locations with 4.99 inches (127 mm) precipitation. This amount of precipitation was 3.20 inches (81mm) above normal, or 279 percent of normal, and enough for Boulder to have its 3rd wettest July on record (period of record 1893-2012). The record set in 1919 held at 7.46 inches (189 mm).

Although July was a relatively quiet severe weather month, an interesting event occurred on July 28th in the Rocky Mountains. According to the National Weather Service in Boulder, Colorado, an EF-0 tornado touched down approximately
1.75 miles northeast of Mount Evans. This tornado touched down at an estimated altitude of 11,900 feet (3627 m), making it the second highest altitude tornado on record. The highest tornado on record occurred on July 4, 2004 in the Sequoia National Park in California at 12,000 feet (3658 m).

Climate Outlook

ENSO-neutral conditions continue and the chances for El Niño conditions increase through September. The temperature outlook indicates a higher probability of above normal temperatures for Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, the southeastern half of Wyoming, southeast North Dakota, and all but the far northwest corner of South Dakota. The precipitation outlook indicates a higher probability of below normal precipitation for far southeastern Nebraska and eastern Kansas. There is a higher probability of above normal precipitation for southwestern Colorado. Equal chances of above, near, or below normal precipitation and temperatures are predicted elsewhere in the Region. More information about these forecasts can be found here.

Drought Watch

Over the last month, there were major changes to the U.S. Drought Monitor as hot and dry conditions prevailed. These conditions led to a rapid expansion and deterioration of the drought. At the end of June, about 67 percent of the Region was under moderate (D1) to extreme (D3) drought. Unfortunately, at this end of this month, 87 percent of the Region was under drought, with 4 percent of the Region in the exceptional drought designation (D4). D4 areas included a small area of central Nebraska, a small area of southeastern Colorado, and much of western Kansas. The D3 areas expanded tremendously since last month to include nearly all of Kansas and Nebraska, and significant portions of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming. There were even some areas of the Region which went from no drought to D3 in just a matter of weeks. According to the U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook released July 19th, drought conditions were expected to improve slightly in Colorado and extreme southern Wyoming. Areas of drought in all other areas of the Region were expected to persist, while new areas of drought were expected to develop in the Dakotas.