National Weather Service: Salina cooler, drier in July

<b>July 2021 average temperature departures from normal in Kansas. Unlike June, much of the state saw cooler than normal temperatures in July.</b> Maps courtesy National Weather Service — **July 2021 average temperature departures from normal in Kansas. Unlike June, much of the state saw cooler than normal temperatures in July.** Maps courtesy National Weather Service

By SALINA POST

As it was for a large portion of the state, July was cooler and drier than normal in Salina.

According to the National Weather Service, the monthly average temperature in Salina was 79.9 degrees, which was 1.0 degree cooler than normal. It tied for the 39th coolest July since records began in 1900, and it was the coolest since 2014.

Five days reached or exceeded 100 degrees during the month, which was a few days below the 30-year normal of about seven days.

<b>Kansas July 2021 average temperatures.</b> — **Kansas July 2021 average temperatures.**

The warmest temperature was 103 degrees on July 30, and the coolest was 57 degrees on July 12. Neither of those was a record breaker. The record high temperature for July is 116 degrees on July 18, 1936, and again on July 24, 1936. The record low temperature is 46 degrees, which was set on July 7, 1908, and tied on July 3, 1924.

In the rainfall category, only 1.44 inches fell at Salina Regional Airport during the month, which was 2.48 inches drier than normal, the weather service noted. It was the 30th driest July on record, and the driest since 2014.

<b>Large portions of the state experienced below normal rainfall, most pronounced across central and northwest portions. However, there were pockets of above normal rainfall smattered about the state, most pronounced across portions of southeast and southwest Kansas. </b> — Large portions of the state experienced below normal rainfall, most pronounced across central and northwest portions. However, there were pockets of above normal rainfall smattered about the state, most pronounced across portions of southeast and southwest Kansas.

The maximum rainfall record was set in July 1993 when 17.93 inches of rain fell. The minimum record was set in 1975 when no measurable rainfall was recorded.

The average wind speed was 8.9 mph. The highest sustained wind was 36 mph on July 10. The highest wind gust was 51 mph on July 25.

<b>Salina and Saline County managed to get through July without a severe thunderstorm warning.</b> — **Salina and Saline County managed to get through July without a severe thunderstorm warning.**