July was one of the hottest on record for Calgary

If Calgary was competing against Edmonton — and when aren’t we? — for best July weather, then we enjoyed a landslide victory.

“They didn’t have it nearly as warm,” said Environment Canada meteorologist David Phillips.

“It seemed like you were living the charmed life there in Calgary. You had it warm, it was just enough rain to keep farmers and gardeners happy, the Stampede was comfortable … and generally, nature left you alone.”

Except, of course, for our recordbreaking hot temperatures.

The average temperature in May, June and July was 15.8 C, the highest it’s been since the 1936 record of 15.7 C.

Since 1881, when record keeping began, this July ranks as the fourth warmest in Calgary’s history. Only 1914, 1936 and 2007 were hotter.

“Calgarians noticed it was very warm. No question about it, the numbers verify the fact that it was one of the warmest Julys on record,” said Phillips. “What made the month so torridly warm, so unusual from that point of view, was the very warm afternoons.”

The maximum average for afternoon temperatures was about 27 C, the minimum average for the mornings was just above 11 C and the mean temperature was 19.1 C.

All numbers surpassed the normal average for July.

Six days went above 30 degrees, far surpassing last year when there were none. The highest temperature was 33 C on July 7.

Typically in Calgary, only two days a year top 30 C in July.

“The good news is you had enough rain so it wasn’t stressed,” said Phillips.

The city ended up with just over 55 mm of rain in July, 10 mm lower than the average. The interesting part was most of the rainfall fell on a single day, July 11.

There were 24 dry days, seven wet.

Although August is usually cooler, Phillips said it’s quite likely the warm trend will continue.