July totally dry

The half-inch of rain Saturday, along with 0.23” Friday does not change the fact that Skagit County was declared in drought July 8 by the U.S. National Integrated Drought Information System. The rain is the first locally since June 16. No precipitation was measured at the Washington State University Memorial Highway weather station in July.

This is the third year since 2000 that it has not rained in July, joining 2001 and 2013. Eight years between 2010-2020 had 0.6” or less of rain. Less than 0.1” of rain fell six of those years. Less than 1” of rain has been recorded 15 years.

There was 0.6” of precipitation in 2020. This century’s average is 0.64” of rain.

The most July rain, about 1.4”, fell in 2002 and 2011. Three of the four heaviest rain years, with 1.3”-1.4”, are clustered between 2011 and 2014 – the last year of over an inch of rain.

June’s heat dome was old news in July, with highs going above 75 degrees but not reaching 80 degrees five of the first six days. Temperatures rose above 80 degrees July 28-30, with the month’s high 86 degrees July 30. Half the month highs were above 75 degrees.

July was two degrees hotter than average for this century with an average daily maximum of 75.4 degrees. The daily average temperature of 62.8 degrees was half a degree above the century’s average, brought down by a daily average minimum of 52.1 degree that is 0.3 degrees below the 21 year average.

Overnight lows dipped below 50 degrees five times. The monthly low was 48 degrees July 28.

Data measured at the WSU Memorial Highway weather station.