LETHBRIDGE, AB – July was one for the weather record books across southern Alberta and the last day of the month was a doozy in Lethbridge.
The mercury hit 34.8°C breaking the old record high for July 31 of 34.4°C which was set back in 1914.
That was just the icing on the cake for what was an extremely hot and dry month. Lethbridge recorded 19 out of 31 days with the temperature at 30°C or hotter, with 8 of those days at 34°C or warmer.
Precipitation has been at a premium too. A total of less than 10 mm fell in the Lethbridge area in July, almost all of that came in one day on July 5.
The extreme dry weather has been going on for a long time. Since June 1, Lethbridge has reported approximately 20 mm of precipitation which is about six times under the average for the same two month period.
Hot conditions are expected for the first week of August as well until things are forecast to finally start to moderate a little by mid-month.
New local temp records for July 31:
Lethbridge Area Preliminary new record of 34.8 Old record of 34.4 set in 1914 for
Taber Area Preliminary new record of 35.6 Old record of 34.4 set in 1973