July proved to be wet and cool for much of the Ohio Valley and Midwest. Temperatures generally ranged from 1 to 3 degrees below average, with the coolest anomalies located across northern Illinois and Indiana. In addition to cooler temperatures, the month was also extremely active. Above normal precipitation was found across a large area of the Midwest, with record setting rainfall occurring across the Indianapolis area. The severe weather story of the month occurred on July 12-13th, when a long lived squall line moved from central Wisconsin all the way to South Carolina. The squall line moved over 850 miles, producing hundreds of severe weather reports.
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Chicago averaged 1.7 degrees below average, with an average high temperature of 81.9 degrees. Unlike Ohio and Indiana, northern Illinois received below average precipitation for the month. The 2.85” of rainfall at O'Hare was 0.85” below normal. In fact, Chicago did not receive measurable precipitation from July 19th to July 31st.
The story of the month came out of Indianapolis, where the city recorded 13.14” of rainfall for July. This set an all-time monthly rainfall record, breaking the previous record of 13.12” set back in 1875. Some locations in Hendricks County received over 18” for the month! The heavy rains led to numerous flooding events along the White and Wabash River basins. In addition to the heavy rainfall, a few severe weather events also plagued central Indiana from the 12th – 17th. On July 13th, Indianapolis International Airport gusted to 52 mph as the previously mentioned squall line moved through the area. Back east towards Ohio, the month of July also proved to be cool and wet. Most of southcentral Ohio averaged 1 to 2 degrees below normal, with precipitation amounts a few inches above normal. Like Indianapolis, widespread damaging wind gusts were experienced with the squall line on July 13th.
