Heat indexes which include a combination of heat, humidity and wind speed, were at times extremely difficult to deal with in July, but Chuck Otte, Geary County Extension Agent, said the actual average temperature for the month was very close to normal.

The average daily high during the month was 87.9, 2.2 degrees below normal. The average overnight low was 69.1, 1.6 degrees above normal. That resulted in a monthly mean temperature of 78.5, three-tenths of a degree below normal.

The highest temperature for July was 99 on the 13th. The lowest temperature for the month was the morning low of 59 on July 3rd.

Three temperature records were set or tied during the month. The high of 71 on the 7th and 74 on the 8th were new record low highs for those dates. The low of 79 on the 13th tied the record high low temperature for that date.  It was the first July since 2009 that Geary County did not have a daytime high of 100 or above.   The hottest July on record was in 1954, when the region baked under a monthly mean temperature of 87.0 degrees.

Rainfall tapered off in July, at least the Milford Lake recording site. Average rainfall for the month is 4.07 inches.  Milford Lake received 3.23 inches for the month while Junction City received 5.29 inches. A heavy rainfall event on July 6th produced much more rain in Junction City than at Milford Lake and that accounts for the big discrepancy.

Normal annual precipitation through the end of July is 20.72 inches. Year to date Milford Lake has received 20.83 inches and Junction City has received 23.14 inches.