July 2020: It took nearly half the month, but the monsoon finally set up on July 17, 2020, and delivered significant rains. Prior to that we were limping along with a quarter of an inch and fearing a bad fire situation. The month was way warmer than normal with 22 days over 80F, most of these in the dry, first half of the month. The monsoon was active for nine days bringing over an inch of rain. Despite this the month was about an inch short of normal, but the fire threat was somewhat diminished. The last week of July the upper flow turned northwesterly bringing fast-moving lines of thunderstorms on many afternoons. Unfortunately rainfall amounts were slim. 

Precipitation: Rainfall totaled 1.55 inches well below the normal of 2.76 inches. The big days were July 24 and 25, 2020 where an inch of rain fell. Some hail was reported in the area on the 30-31st. We had 13 days of measurable rain but most were below 0.05 inches.

Temperature:  Another warmer than normal month with an average high of 80.6F and a low of 50.7F. These combined to make the month 4 degrees above normal. The maximum high was 88F on July 10 and 11, 2020; the lowest high was a chilly 65F on July 26, 2020. The lowest low was 37F on the 1st. 

Winds:  Two windy days with peak winds near 50mph on July 29, 2020. Some things got blown around with this one. 

Other Features: The upper level high meandered around the southern plains and Rockies. When located over the Texas Panhandle we saw the monsoon get established. When over Utah we got the northwest-flow and afternoon squall lines.

Outlook for August: We see a bit of a cool down with an average high 74 and a low of 45F. The monsoon sometimes extends into August so precipitation is plentiful with over 2 inches. This year however, it looks like the northwest flow pattern will continue for the first couple of weeks. The monsoon is unlikely to return so the outlook for the month is for warmer and drier than normal.