July 2023 and 2023 (So Far) State Temperature and Precipitation Rankings

Fig. 1: NOAA state rankings for temperature during July 2023 based on the 1895-2023 climatology.

Discussion: July 2023 ranked 11^th warmest in the 129-year U.S. climatology (Fig. 1). Several states observed all-time-record hot months of July including Arizona and New Mexico where the wet summer 2023 monsoon failed, Florida (surrounded by record warm ocean surface temperatures), and Maine. Most of the West and South U.S. plus Northeast Corridor U.S. observed top 10 hottest mid-summer.

July 2023 ranked 45^th driest in the 129-year climatology (Fig. 2). Most of the West and North-central U.S. was very dry lead by top-6 all-time mid-summer regimes for New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Idaho. In the Upper Midwest, Minnesota observed their 3^rd driest month on record. Wet weather was mostly in the Northeast U.S. including near-record values for Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Oklahoma and Michigan were also very wet.

Fig. 2: NOAA state rankings for precipitation during July 2023 based on the 1895-2023 climatology.

During 2023 so far, the U.S. has ranked 16^th warmest in the 129-year climatology (Fig. 3). Florida has observed a record warm 2023 to date. Texas to Arkansas to Michigan and eastward have observed a top-10 all-time warm 2023 so far while the East Coast States are all in the top-5 all-time warmest. The western half of the U.S. is temperate and only Nevada has witnessed a cooler than normal 2023 so far.

Nationally, the U.S. precipitation regime in 2023 so far is close to normal (Fig. 4). The driest states are Washington and Maryland, each ranking in the top 15 driest all-time while central and northern New England were the wet zones ranking mostly in the top 10 wettest of all-time.

Fig. 3: NOAA state rankings for temperature during 2023 so far based on the 1895-2023 climatology.

Fig. 4: NOAA state rankings for precipitation during 2023 so far based on the 1895-2023 climatology.