Third Warmest Month on Record

By Russell Russ

The month of July is typically Norfolk’s warmest month of the year, and this July certainly lived up to that. There have been only two months over the last 88 years that have been warmer than this July. While it was a very warm month with an abundance of humidity, it came in quite low for rainfall. Summer’s warm and humid air often produces thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. We got that last July, but this July the big rains, while hitting many other parts of the state and region, did not hit Norfolk.

July’s high temperature of 90 degrees was observed on July 20 and 21. Both days missed record daily highs by just one degree. These were the first and only days so far this year when Norfolk hit 90 degrees or above. It was a very warm month with numerous days coming close to daily record highs, but there was just one day that actually hit a record. The high of 89 degrees on July 17 tied the record for that date, set in 1968 and 2012. The low temperature of 54 degrees was observed on July 25. July’s monthly mean temperature of 71.9 degrees was 3.7 degrees above normal.

Norfolk’s top three warmest months on record are July 2013 with 72.7 degrees, July 1955 with 72.1 and July 2019 with 71.9. July 2018 with 71.5 degrees is tied with 2010 as Norfolk’s fifth warmest month. Norfolk’s six warmest months on record have all been in July. Norfolk’s coolest July occurred in 1962 with a monthly mean temperature of 63.9 degrees. The second coolest July was in 2000 with 64.4 degrees.

The total precipitation recorded for the month was 2.81 inches, 1.55 inches below normal. This July ranked as Norfolk’s 20th driest July on record. Compared to last July, this year saw 3.55 inches less rainfall. The bigger storms may have hit Norfolk last year, but they missed town this year. There were four thunderstorms observed at the weather station, but none were severe in nature. The storm during the afternoon of July 22 produced 1.71 inches of rainfall, the largest of the month. Norfolk’s wettest July was in 2014 with 12.76 inches, the driest was 1939 with 1.29 inches.

Through May, we were doing quite well for yearly precipitation. June and July were both below normal. Through July, the total precipitation amount for the year was 27.66 inches. This was 2.20 inches below normal. We are now in a deficit, and it is becoming noticeable in local lake and pond levels—and lawns. While we are a little below normal, there is no reason for great concern, since this amount could easily be reversed with one or two rain events. Only if the deficit continues for several more months will it be a bigger concern. We are far from record dry conditions.

An early look into August, through mid-month, showed that August’s weather was quite pleasant overall, typical August summertime weather for Norfolk. There were some humid days, but it’s August so that’s normal. The warmest temperature through Aug. 17 was just 82 degrees. Rainfall was about normal. Autumn is just around the corner. As is usually the case by mid-August, there is a faint sign of fall coloring showing up in some trees, and several mornings have dipped into the low 50s. Enjoy the summer heat while it is here. It will not be long before autumn arrives.

Weather observations are recorded by the Great Mountain Forest at Norfolk’s National Weather Service Cooperative Weather Observer Station, Norfolk 2 SW.