National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

   Warm...and Wet for some

     Despite the absence of a prolonged heat wave, average July temperatures were at least a few degrees above normal across Northern Michigan.  While no location experienced their warmest July on record, all selected cities below did experience one of their top 20 warmest, with both Sault Ste Marie and Alpena leading the way, experiencing their 8th warmest July on record.  Interestingly, despite the above normal temperatures, no record highs were recorded at the sites listed below.

     Per the usual in summer, precipitation amounts varied widely across the area, ranging from nearly 2 inches below normal at Sault Ste Marie, to the 3rd wettest July on record at Houghton Lake.   In general, and continuing the theme of spring and early summer, the heaviest amount of precipitation fell south of the M-72 corridor, with amounts tapering off steadily to the north.

                    July Average Temperature Data:

Sault Ste Marie (1888 - Present)

Mean	Average	Departure	Ranking*	Record Warm/Year	Record Cold/Year
68.4	63.9	+4.5	Tied 8th Warmest	74.1 / 1921	57.4 / 1992

 

Houghton Lake (1917 - Present)

Mean	Average	Departure	Ranking*	Record Warm/Year	Record Cold/Year
70.3	66.7	+3.6	10th Warmest	74.4 / 1921	62.0 / 2009

 

Alpena (1917 - Present)

Mean	Average	Departure	Ranking*	Record Warm/Year	Record Cold/Year
70.1	66.7	+3.4	Tied 8th Warmest	73.5 / 1921	61.3 / 1992

 

Traverse City* (1896 - Present)

Mean	Average	Departure	Ranking*	Record Warm/Year	Record Cold/Year
72.5	69.6	+2.9	12th Warmest	76.8 / 1921	63.0 / 1965

 

Gaylord** (1952 - Present)

Mean	Average	Departure	Ranking*	Record Warm/Year	Record Cold/Year
69.3	67.5	+1.8	Tied 17th Warmest	73.5 / 1955	61.8 / 2009

  

                              

                                            July Precipitation Data:

Sault Ste Marie (1888 - Present)

Precipitation	Average	Departure	Ranking*	Record Wettest/Year	Record Driest/Year
1.19	3.14	-1.95	18th Driest	7.23 / 1996	0.22 / 1906

 

Houghton Lake (1917 - Present)

Precipitation	Average	Departure	Ranking*	Record Wettest/Year	Record Driest/Year
6.14	2.75	+3.39	3rd Wettest	8.09 / 1952	0.28 / 1918

 

Alpena (1917 - Present)

Precipitation	Average	Departure	Ranking*	Record Wettest/Year	Record Driest/Year
4.27	3.17	+1.10	19th Wettest	7.17 / 1975	0.22 / 1989

 

Traverse City* (1896 - Present)

Precipitation	Average	Departure	Ranking*	Record Wettest/Year	Record Driest/Year
2.80	3.14	-0.34	N/A	9.99 / 1994	0.27 / 1981

 

Gaylord** (1952 - Present)

Precipitation	Average	Departure	Ranking*	Record Wettest/Year	Record Driest/Year
3.12	3.22	-0.10	N/A	6.77 / 1952	0.55 / 1965

 

  - all averages are calculated using the 1971 - 2000 period

* Traverse City - Normal and observed temperature data is compiled from the ASOS site at Cherry Capital Airport.  Snowfall and precipitation amounts are recorded at the cooperative observer at Traverse City Munson Hospital, while snowfall and precipitation normals are compiled from the ASOS site at Cherry Capital Airport.

** Gaylord - All normal data is compiled from the cooperative observer site in the vicinity of the Gaylord Regional Airport ASOS site.  Observed precipitation and snowfall amounts are recorded from the cooperative observer, while temperature data is taken from the ASOS site.

( ) = Consistent years of record

* = only rankings in the top 20 will be entered

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