Syracuse, N.Y. -- This current stretch of mostly normal weather in Central New York hides the fact that July has been very hot, and will be hot again before it fades into August next week.
If National Weather Service forecasts pan out, in fact, this month will be in the top 10 hottest months of July on record in Syracuse. July 2019 is projected to end with an average temperature of 75, enough to tie for the eighth-hottest July since complete records began in 1903.
The typical average temperature for July is 71.3 degrees.
Climate scientists say July is likely to be the warmest month ever recorded on earth, thanks to record-breaking warmth in Europe and parts of the U.S., including Alaska. Syracuse’s warmest months on record were July 1955 and 1921.
This month is also likely to end up drier than normal in Central New York, although not even in the 20 driest months of July. The 2 inches of rain in Syracuse so far is about three-quarters of an inch below normal, and there’s virtually none in the forecast through the weekend. July could end next week with some thunderstorms, which tend to be spotty, dropping heavy rain in one spot and completely missing others.
Here’s a list of the hottest months of July on record in Syracuse, with 2019 estimated.
Hottest months of July in Syracuse
| Rank | Year | Average temperature |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1955 | 76.6 |
| 1 | 1921 | 76.6 |
| 3 | 2012 | 76.2 |
| 4 | 2011 | 75.8 |
| 5 | 1935 | 75.5 |
| 5 | 1933 | 75.5 |
| 7 | 1931 | 75.3 |
| 8 | 1999 | 75 |
| 8 | 2019 | 75 |
| 10 | 1916 | 74.8 |
Source: National Weather Service, NOAA