July 2026 Saint Cloud Weather Summary

End of Month Rain Somewhat Offsets Hot, Dry, Smoky July

Saint Cloud, MN, July 2026 Weather Summary

The bulk of July 2026 had the worst possible conditions for water balance in most of Minnesota. Not only was the rain missing in all but northern Minnesota (set NWS Water Prediction Services Minnesota precipitation map to July 30, day, and time period to last 14 days), but it was the most intensely hot July period since 2006 (13 days with a high of 90 degrees or higher, including two 6-day heat waves). Through July 30, St. Cloud had only 5 July days with measurable rainfall and 2.15 inches of total rainfall. That would have made the last 12 months (August 2025-July 30, 2026) the 10th driest August-July period in St. Cloud records (19.43 inches). 

In addition, the average July 1-30 temperature was 75.4 degrees, which would have been 5.1 degrees warmer than average and would have ranked as the 8th warmest July in St. Cloud records.

However, a slow-moving storm from early morning through the late afternoon on July 31 dropped enough rain to cause flooding in the Minnesota River Valley (set date to August 1 and time period to last 2 days on the NWS Water Prediction Services Minnesota precipitation map). While St. Cloud wasn't quite in the heaviest rainfall, a steady rain produced 0.67 inch of rain, allowing July 2026 total rainfall to reach 2.82 inches, 0.78 inches short of average. That pushes the August 2025-July 2026 total rainfall to 20.10 inches, still 8.39 inches behind. That is the 13th driest August-July total in St. Cloud records (see below)

Comparing This Year's Rain Shortage to 1986-1989

It's the driest August-July since 1987-1988, part of the last major extended drought in Minnesota, that extended from 1986 through 1989. That period had large extended periods of major drought (red or maroon) in the entire US from the Rockies to the East Coast (set period to January 1986-December 1989 on the NCEI historic Palmer Index site). In St. Cloud, that summer had 33 days with a high of at least 90 degrees, the third most in St. Cloud records (scroll to bottom of previous page), 7 of which had highs of at least 100 degrees. (There have only been 11 days since 1950 on which St. Cloud reached 100 degrees). That drought produced major hardship with massive crop loss and huge wildfires, including the massive Yellowstone Park fire. 

I moved to Minnesota during the summer of 1988. There had been only 0.05 inch of June rain, the driest June in St. Cloud records. During the first heavy rainfall of that July (2.64 inches for the month, still short of average), huge amount of mold spores were pushed into the air as the heavy rainfall pushed into the parched ground. I was choking for two months later after that rain. The brown spots that have shown up in central Minnesota during the past two weeks cannot compare to that late 1980's drought or the ten years of drought seen during the 1930's dust bowl. I don't want to see how the US Drought Monitor would look during those years.

The Palmer Index, which is used in NCEI, is a long-term measure of drought (note that 2025-2026 has only been that severe in north central Minnesota), while the US Drought Monitor uses a series of indices more sensitive to short-term drought. While the drought conditions in Minnesota worsened in July 2026 (set dates to July 28, before the end of the month rain, and June 30 on the US Drought Monitor two week comparison), only north central and northeastern Minnesota had wildfire issues.

Final Temperatures July 2026: Tied for 9th Warmest (Most 90-degree days in Recent Years)

As noted above, July 2026 was running on a pace to be the 7th hottest July in St. Cloud records. However, that July 31 rain storm also kept skies cloudy, so the high of 73 was the coolest high of the month. For the entire month, St. Cloud had a July average temperature of 75.1 degrees, 4.9 degrees above average. This tied 2006 and 2011 for the 9th warmest July in St. Cloud records. Those 13 highs of at least 90 degrees, occurred in two 6-day heat waves (at least 3 straight days of 90 degree highs). These two periods were St. Cloud's first two heat waves since July 25-28, 2023. These two July 2026 heat waves were the longest in St. Cloud since the 7 days of June 4-10, 2021. The record longest heat wave in St. Cloud history was the hottest period in St. Cloud records between July 5-18, 1936. That period still carries most of St. Cloud's daily hot temperature records. It included 9 highs of at least 100 degrees, including the record-tying 107 on July 22. This is why July 2026 didn't break any record warm temperatures. 

Hotter The Further South You Went

Ironically, central Minnesota has seen 90-plus temperatures on its doorstep throughout the summer months. The persistent highs in the 90's had been in the southern US and the central and southern Rockies since June, but that heat only reached southern Minnesota on a few occasions (no 90-degree highs in St. Cloud). In July, the heat dome was often in the Rockies and extended into the Plains at times, catching more of Minnesota during those stretches. Still, St. Cloud didn't break 90 degrees as often as the Twin Cities (14 90-degree highs, including 10 straight days July 11-20, and a 100-degree high on July 27. On the other hand, the leading edge of the really hot air didn't always reach as far to the north as Brainerd (74.0 degree July average, 8 days with a high of at least 90; on the NWS Duluth NOWData climate page, select Brainerd area and 2026-07).

While St. Cloud didn't reach 100 degrees, the 97-degree high on July 27 was St. Cloud's first high of 97 degrees or higher since August 22, 2023 (on the St. Cloud August 2024 weather summary, you have to scroll all the way to the bottom). Since 1988 (13 days with a high of 97 or higher), St. Cloud has had only 23 (now 24) highs that warm over the past 38 years.

70-Degree Lows Added to Heat Stress

Another sign of the extreme heat was the frequent occurrence of uncomfortable low temperatures. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport had 19 days with a low of at least 70-degrees, setting an all-time July record (on the NWS Twin Cities NOWData, select Minneapolis area, monthly summarized area, min temperature, number of days, and range to >=70). Since St. Cloud doesn't have nearly the large area of concrete and cement seen in the Twin Cities, it is easier for St. Cloud to cool. Still, the combination of hot air and high dew points allowed 3 days with a low of at least 70 degrees. For the season so far, St. Cloud has posted 4 lows of at least 70 degrees, which is one higher than average for the entire summer. Note that 70 degree lows on average are less frequent than lows of -20 or colder during the winter. 

Still Very Few Hot Summers in Recent (Very Warm) Years

While this July has been hot, note that that recent St. Cloud summers have not set records. Only the summer of 2021 has managed to break into the 10 warmest summers. The summers of 1988 and 2021 have been the only summers in the 10 warmest since the 1930's. Despite that, 7 of St. Cloud's warmest years have occurred since 1998, 3 of which have occurred during the 2020's. That's because much of the warmth has concentrated during the fall (6 of 11 warmest since 1998), winter (6 of 11 warmest since 1998), and spring (6 of 11 warmest since 1998). During that time, there has been an extension of period when 90 degree highs are possible (22 in May during the warmer springs since 2001). And, the earliest 70-degree high (also the earliest 60-degree high) was set in early March. And, the first 3 90-degree highs in October have occurred during the past 3 years.

Wildfires and Poor Air Quality (At Times) Consequence of Hot, Dry Conditions

The combined effect of the heat and persistently dry conditions (under 25 inches, green, when you set the NWS Water Prediction Service Minnesota rainfall map to the August 1 date, and the time period to last 365 days) has led to one of northern and northeastern Minnesota's worst wildfire seasons. There have been numerous wildfires in the Canadian boreal forest from Nunavut and the Northwest Territories into neighboring Ontario, but dry lightning strikes triggered several fires on the Minnesota side of the border during the early July heat. Unique conditions trapped most of the smoke close to the ground, first pushing into northwestern Ontario, then coming into Minnesota in a mid-month surge. During this period, air quality indices lapsed into the 600's at times in northeastern Minnesota and ended up in the 300's in much of Minnesota (set tab to daily AQI and month to July on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency past Air Quality Index page), setting many local records and closing many businesses. Note that a mere 151 Air Quality Index is listed as serious for everyone and all people are urged to take steps at a 201 AQI. The breaking of the first heat wave has allowed fire fighters to get better control of the Minnesota wildfires. Much of the Superior National Forest, and the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area were closed during the worst conditions, but have reopened. During the second half of the month, much of Minnesota has had hazy sunshine, since the wildfire smoke has been suspended aloft (gray areas on the EPA fire and smoke map), but we haven't seen a repeat of the poor low-level air quality. Given all of the fires both in Canada and the huge swaths of the US affected by more severe drought than has been in Minnesota (deepest red on the US Drought Monitor), Minnesota will frequently have smoke aloft, making hazy sunshine, and could have another surge of reduced air quality, although it will be hard to duplicate mid-July.

To solve the rainfall shortfall and ease the extreme low-levels on many rivers and streams in northern and central Minnesota, including the Mississippi River at St. Cloud (click on red flag on the Minnesota DNR streamflow map) and allow overlay of current weekly stream flow report), we really need the July 31 rain to repeat 2-3 times a week. Being so close to the center of the hottest temperatures could put Minnesota in a heavy rain zone if enough moisture from Mexico and the Southwest flows northward to the northern Rockies, then eastward into Minnesota. We'd also need to be just on the cool side of the hot air, far enough away that the mid-level warmth doesn't suppress thunderstorms. However, we'll see if that happens. Meanwhile, the smoke and fire potential will continue in Canada and the western US, especially since it is normal to have little or no rainfall from California into Nevada until well into the fall. 

July 2026 Statistics

Last Update: 3 June 2026