While the area did have a hot week in mid-July, that was about the only time during the month that temperatures were above normal. However, Geary County Extension Agent Chuck Otte said that wet weather of May and June disappeared like a small cloud on a hot summer day.
The average daily high during July was 87.8, 2.3 degrees below normal. The average overnight low for the month was 67.7, two tenths of a degree above normal. This gave us a monthly mean temperature of 77.8, 1 degree below normal. The hot weather spell, from the 16th to the 20th was about the only above normal highs that we experienced for the month. The highest temperature during July was 98 degrees on the 17th and 20th. The lowest temperature for the month was the morning low of 58 on the 23rd. Long term average daily highs for July are above 90 for most of the month. This year we only had ten days with highs of 90 or above. There were no temperature records set or tied during the month. The hottest July on record was in 1954 when we had a monthly mean temperature of 87.0. The coldest July is a tie between 1950 and 1967 with a monthly mean temperature of 73.8.
The above average rains for May and June quickly became a memory in July when measurable rainfall was recorded on just seven days. Average rainfall for July is 4.07 inches. Junction City received 1.43 inches and Milford Lake 1.33 inches, both about 1/3 of the normal July rainfall. Year to date we are still well above normal due to the heavy rainfall in May and June. Normal year to date through July is 20.72 inches. In 2019 Milford Lake has received 26.29 inches of rain and Junction City 25.83 inches. The wettest July on record was in 1950 (not 1951) when 13.65 inches flooded the area. The driest July was in 1983 when one small storm produced only 0.04 inches of rain!
August brings us shorter days, slightly cooler temperatures and less average rainfall. Average daily highs start August around 91 and by the end of the month are down to 88. Overnight lows drop from 67 on the 1st to 64 on the 31st. Average rainfall for August is 3.96 inches.