July weather was variable with some locations having much above normal rainfall and others having below normal. Temperatures were generally warmer than normal but not everywhere, Inverness had their second coolest July on record while Plant City had the third-warmest July. The temperatures continue to slowly climb at the official gauge at Tampa International Airport.
July 2016, 2017 and 2018 all rank in the top-10 warmest on record.
On the morning of July 23, we had a rare early-morning severe weather event in the summer. Severe storms impacted the Tampa Bay area with numerous reports of minor wind damage and vivid pre-dawn lightning.
The very wet pattern for Polk County that began in mid-May continued in July. Lakeland has now had 44 inches of rain since mid-May! This is 24 inches above normal. One Bay News 9 viewer on the southwest side of Lakeland reports an incredible 50 inches of rain since mid-May through July at his home.
TAMPA
Average temperature 84.1
+1.1 degrees above normal
Hottest 94 16th
Coolest 72 4th, 23rd
Rainfall 6.04”
-1.03 below normal
8th warmest July on record
ST. PETERSBURG
Average temperature 84.2
+0.3 above normal
Hottest 93 3rd, 11th
Coolest 75 23rd
Rainfall 4.90”
-2.44 below normal
CLEARWATER
Average Temperature 82.5
-0.7 below normal
Hottest 92 10th, 14th
Coolest 71 23rd
Rainfall 11.56”
+2.26 above normal
BRADENTON
Average Temperature 83.0
+0.6 above normal
Hottest Temperature 93 9th, 11th
Coolest 69 4th
Rainfall 7.88”
-0.10 below normal
LAKELAND
Average Temperature 84.4
+1.4 above normal
Hottest 95 15th, 28th
Coolest 70 6th, 7th
Rainfall 13.31”
+5.82 above normal
9th Wettest July
WINTER HAVEN
Average Temperature 83.2
+0.3 above normal
Hottest 96 12th, 13th
Coolest 71 22nd, 23rd
Rainfall 13.14”
+5.62” above normal
5th Wettest July
INVERNESS
Rainfall 13.17”
+6.33 above normal
4th Wettest July
BROOKSVILLE
Average Temperature 81.2
+0.5 above normal
Hottest 93 3rd, 12th
Coolest 68 23rd
Rainfall 11.92”
+3.88 above normal