Weather Vault: July 2012

Posted:  6:00 AM  8/1/12
Updated:  4:50 PM 8/15/12

July started thh way that June ended; hot.  The 1st and the 2nd both had highs in the middle to upper 90s and into the lower 100s by the 3rd through Saturday the 7th.  The 2nd actually had a few pop-up t-storms that lead to a few severe t-storm warnings.  Only some light damage in Shelbyville was recorded.  The 90s would stick around until the weekend when some scattered showers that would break it up.

The next week started warm, but not nearly as hot through the week.  Showers would arrive on Friday the 13th and would stick around in a scattered nature through the weekend.  That brought some places some heavy rainfall, but once again it was sparce and we slid further into our severe drought. 

The next week only saw scattered storms with high temperatures in the middle to upper 90s and even lower 100s.  The rain wouldn't add up to much and the drought would continue to get worse.  The next drought monitor pushed 95% of the state into a severe drought.  There was also no rain and hot temperatures through the next weekend. 

The final full week of July started hot and dry once again.  Central Illinois was back into the 100s for Monday the 23rd through Wednesday the 25th.  Clouds kept central Illinois in the 80s and low 90s for Thursday the 26th, but the clouds didn't provide much, if any rainfall.  The 26th was also the day that the drought monitor came out showing most of central Illinois in a extreme drought. 

Monday the 30th kicked of another round of 90s and the upper 90s ended the month on the 31st.  July would break many records including most 90 degree days. 

We will be updating this story with more information as we gather it. 

Statewide Information
The average temperature for the state in July of 2012 was 81.8 degrees.  That's the second warmest July on record, with only the 1936 mark of 83.1 being warmer.  Rainfall was also sparce across the state with an average of 1.47".  That's the fourth driest with 1930 being the driest at 1.02"  As of the end of July, central Illinois is on a record pace for temperatures and within shouting distance of the driest July in Illinois on record.

Nationally
The United States recorded the warmest July on record in 2012.  That beat the old record set in 1936.  Rainfall wise, the midwest was dry, but things ended up near normal because of wet months in the western U.S. and along the Gulf.  You can get more on the month nationally in this article. 

Globally
July ranked as the 4th hottest July on record for the globe, 1.12 degrees fahrenheit.  The areas that experienced the higher than average temperatures were North America and Asia.  Some places, such as Australia, northern and western Europe, eastern Russia, Alaska, and southern South America, were cooler than normal.  This also marks the 329th consecutive month of above normal temperatures.  Also, the Arctic recorded the second smallest sea ice extent on record. You can check out this map to see the details or just check out some of the raw data. 

Local Numbers

	Maximum Temperatures
	Normal	July 2012
Champaign-Urbana	85	95.3
Danville	85.4	94.7
Decatur	87.4	93.4
Effingham	Not Listed	Not Listed
Springfield	86.2	95.8

	Minimum Temperatures
	Normal	July 2012
Champaign-Urbana	64.9	69.1
Danville	64.7	67.8
Decatur	65.6	71.1
Effingham	Not Listed	59.6
Springfield	65.4	70.0

	Average Temperatures
	Normal	July 2012
Champaign-Urbana	74.9	82.2
Danville	75.1	81.3
Decatur	76.5	82.2
Effingham	Not Listed	Not Listed
Springfield	75.8	82.9

	Precipitation
	Normal	July 2012
Champaign-Urbana	4.70"	0.61"
Danville	4.67"	0.37"
Decatur	3.98"	0.47"
Effingham	Not Listed	Not Listed
Springfield	3.94"	0.34"