John McGinley, Peak to Peak.  July 2018: The monsoon flow from the tropics appeared about mid month and lingered in a large upper level high pressure area through the 27th. This is not the typical monsoon pattern where we see a moisture pipeline set up from Mexico to Colorado.

Hence rainfall amounts were somewhat disappointing falling short of the July normal by about an inch. This brought the area into a moderate drought condition, something we haven’t seen all summer. For the fifth straight month average temperatures were above normal, this time by about 3 degrees. We had our first 90F high of the summer on the 10th. We had a couple of cold fronts move in giving a taste of fall but things rapidly warmed in a day or two.

Precipitation: We got off to a slow start but mid month a moist surge brought some precipitation on the 12th. A few days later more precipitation fell from the 15th to the 17th. Highlight was the week of rain that began on the 21st. Big day was 0.56 inches on the 23rd.

Temperature: Average high for the month was 79.9F with an average low of 47.1. These combined to make the month 3.2 degrees above normal. High for the month was 90F on the 10th with the lowest high of 64F in the rain on the 23rd. Low for the month was 37F on the 1st.

Winds: July 2018 was that rarest of Nederland months: no windy (40mph +) days.

Other features: After the first couple of weeks precipitation was more frequent and winds were quiet so the fire danger was much reduced. With June and July both drier than normal the national drought index finally put the northern Front Range in moderate drought.

Outlook for August: Things begin to cool down in August with average highs dropping down to 74F with lows of 45F. The monsoon continues to late in the month usually dropping a bit over 2 inches of rain. Winds are no issue. Long range models are indicating that scattered showers will continue but increase by mid month with the establishment of a monsoon pipeline. Temperatures will be cooler than normal but warm up late in the month.