Many people I have spoken to in recent days as commented that this July wasn't that bad temperature wise. My impression is somewhat similar, but curiously, the numbers tell a more complex story.
With an average temperature of 82.9F at the Salt Lake City International Airport, July 2025 rates as the 12th warmest on record. With records going back 152 years, that puts it solidly in the top 10% for July warmth. Additionally, there is no July prior to July 2003 that was hotter. This July was hotter than any July in the late 19th or entire 20th century.
So why didn't it seem so bad? A few hypotheses. For one, it was the coolest July in five years and July 2021, 2022, and 2023 are the three hottest on record, so this July was cooler compared to the recent past.
Second, although the average temperature is high, we did not see high temperature extremes. There were no record highs set and we only hit 100 3 times. On those days the high was 100.
So this July was characterized by relatively sustained warmth without extremes. Highs ranged between 89 and 100, and the 89 occurred on only one day (July 4). Low temperatures on 19 days were 70 or higher, but we did get into the 60s on 12 days.
Finally, a lack of any strong monsoon circulation or surges means humidities have generally been low.
The lack of moisture is reflected by the lack of rain. Measurable precipitation at the airport was recorded on only two days (July 2 and 4), totaling 0.18 inches. July is a dry month here, averaging 0.49", but 0.18 puts us just inside the upper quarter of driest Julys.
June was also dry and the total precipitation at the airport in both months totaled 0.34", which is the 13th lowest on record. June-July 1994 is the driest on record with 0.06".
The monsoon is notoriously difficult to predict and there's always the chance that the airport gets nailed by an isolated thunderstorm, but for the most part, the models suggest a continuation of the weather monotony the first week of August and the outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for the 2nd week promises more of the same.
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| Source: NOAA/CPC |
You get what you get and you don't throw a fit.
It seemed like there were more cool mornings than in the recent past and that made what seemed like a big difference in terms of perceived comfort. I’m guessing most of the time in the recent past the average low was higher compared to this past July. Given the intense radiative forcing in July I tend to not notice the difference between 97 and 101, but in the mornings waking up to 68 with a light breeze instead of 77 is a world of difference comfort for me anyway.
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