July 2022 Saint Cloud Weather Summary

Warm July, But Far from a Cruel Summer in Central Minnesota

July 2022 St. Cloud Weather Summary

July had an average temperature of 71.6 degrees (high: 82.5 degrees; low: 60.6 degrees), 1.6 degrees warmer than average. That ranked as the 56th warmest July out of the 142-year record. Since 1999, there has been a modest trend towards warmer than average Julys. 17 of the 24 Julys have been warmer than average, although 4 of the 17 were less than a degree warmer than average. Similarly, 17 of the past 23 complete summers were warmer than average, but 6 of the 17 were within a degree of average. Only 8 of the past 23 summers were warmer than 70.0 degrees (2 degrees above average) and only 2012 approached one of the 10 warmest summers on record. Two of those warm summers were the past two (70.3 and 70.6 degrees in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

This summer so far (July and August combined) ranks as St. Cloud's 28th warmest of the 142 on record.

There were only 2 days with a high of above 90 degrees in July: 96 degrees on July 18 and 92 degrees on July 22. That only makes 6 days thus far this summer with a high of at least 90 degrees. The temperature never dropped below 70 degrees on July 19, the 4th day with a low of at least 70 degrees so far this summer.

Central Minnesota Sharing in Recent Dryness To Some Degree

The rainfall finally eased off in central Minnesota in July. The St. Cloud Regional Airport only saw 2.20 inches, 1.40 inch below average. That was similar to the 1-3 inch deficits seen from Sherburne County through the Twin Cities (see 30-day rainfall departure from average from NWS Twin Cities). However, the dry period in those areas to the south has lasted more than 3 months, but Meanwhile, the growing season rainfall is less than average south of Fergus Falls and St. Cloud and less than 70 percent of average (yellow) from southwestern Minnesota through the Twin Cities.

Meanwhile, St. Cloud, Little Falls, Sauk Centre, Brainerd, Aitkin and all the way to Duluth have had well above average rainfall. The growing season St. Cloud rainfall (April-July) is still 18.51 inches, 4.89 inches above average. For the entire year, St. Cloud precipitation has totaled 21.39 inches, 4.77 inches above average. That ranks as the 20th wettest first 7 months of the year. The 73 days with at least 0.01 inch of rain ranks as the 16th highest Jan-July total on record.

The upcoming week has the potential to produce well above average temperatures, but the 5-7 day outlook has often been overblown on how severe the heat would be.

     July 2022 Statistics

 Last Updated: August 1, 2022