Raindrops Keep Falling…or Not
July precipitation ranged from 25% of normal to more than 200% of normal.
July precipitation varied - in some areas it rained extreme amounts and in other areas it barely rained. Twenty of the Northeast’s 35 major climate sites were wetter than normal, with Dulles Airport, VA, having its wettest July on record and another 12 sites ranking this July among their top 20 wettest on record. There were multiple extreme rainfall events in the region. A particularly notable one occurred on July 23 when 4.27 inches of rain fell in one hour at the Harrisburg International Airport, PA. This event exceeded the 100-year return period, meaning rainfall of that magnitude has a 1% chance of occurring in a given year. The daily total of 4.71 inches made it the site’s fifth wettest day on record. Similarly, Atlantic City, NJ, had its second wettest July day on record with 5.41 inches of rain on July 29. Flash flooding led to numerous impassable roads, damaged homes and buildings, stranded vehicles, water rescues, and evacuations. Agriculture was negatively affected by the wet conditions, while runoff contributed to high levels of bacteria or harmful algal blooms on several waterways. On the other hand, five of the 15 drier-than-normal sites ranked this July among their top 20 driest on record. During the month, abnormal dryness expanded along coastal and northern Maine, as well as Long Island. Overall, July precipitation ranged from 25% of normal to more than 200% of normal.
Dulles Airport, VA, had its wettest July on record. July rainfall for the major climate sites ranged from 21% of normal in Erie, PA, to 269% of normal in Atlantic City, NJ.
July average temperatures ranged from 2°F below normal to 3°F above normal for most of the Northeast.
In July, the coolest temperatures tended to be in northern areas such as New York and New England, while the warmest temperatures tended to be in southern areas such as Maryland and Delaware. Overall, July average temperatures ranged from 2°F below normal to 3°F above normal for most of the Northeast. Of the 35 major climate sites, 22 wrapped up July on the warm side of normal. Of those, six sites ranked this July among their top 20 warmest on record.
July average temperatures for the major climate sites ranged 1.0°F below normal in Worcester, MA, and Syracuse, NY, yo 2.2°F above normal in Williamsport and Allentown, PA.