July 2021 Climate Summary

Overview and Graphics
Monthly Summary
Records

Overview and Graphics

July 2021 Climate Review: Temperatures finished below normal by around 1 to 1.5 degrees. We started the month with a refreshing airmass over the region during the 4th of July weekend with low temperatures dipping into the mid 50s to around 60. On the morning of July 3rd, a record low of 56 occurred in Cape Girardeau. Meanwhile, Carbondale observed a temperature of 54, their coolest July 3rd temperature since 1959. A couple of other cool downs were experienced through the month as well. Our hottest stretch occurred from July 24-30. This was our first prolonged stretch of oppressive heat and humidity this summer, with heat index readings exceeding 100 for 6 straight days in Paducah and 8 straight in Poplar Bluff. The worst of the heat and humidity was observed on July 29th, when heat index readings soared above 110 in some locations including Cape Girardeau, MO (113) and Mount Vernon, IL (115).

It was a wet month across much of the region, with many areas receiving 5 to 8 inches and some locally higher totals of 10 to 11 inches. These amounts were 1 to 4+ inches above July normal rainfall. Both Poplar Bluff and Cape Girardeau finished in the top 10 wettest July’s on record. The highest totals of 10+ inches were generally focused along the I-64 corridor in southern Illinois. Our highest observed amount was 11.03” at a CoCoRaHS station near Belle Rive, IL in southeast Jefferson County. The majority of the rain occurred during the first 18 days of the month before the faucet was turned off for many areas during the final 13 days.

The graphic below is an interpolated rainfall map using actual observations. Please note that there are likely discrepancies in between observations, since the values are estimated based on nearest reports.

July 2021 Review: Precipitation and Temperature Maps (Click on image to enlarge)

Climate Maps are from the Northeast Regional Climate Center

Monthly Summary Listings of normals and records for Paducah, Evansville, and Cape Girardeau

Monthly Climate Report: Paducah | Evansville | Cape Girardeau | Poplar Bluff | Carbondale

Records Listing of records for Paducah, Evansville, and Cape Girardaeu

Record Event Reports: Paducah | Evansville | Cape Girardeau | Poplar Bluff | Carbondale