Warm and dry pattern continued in July in Los Alamos, White Rock

Rainfall that did occur fell in varying amounts around the Los Alamos area, said meteorologist Scot Johnson of Meteorology and Air Quality (RRES-MAQ). He noted that 2.61 inches of precipitation was recorded at a rain gauge on Arkansas Street in the North Community. But only 1.71 inches of precipitation was measured at Technical Area 6, the official Los Alamos measuring station. The latter precipitation figure is 58 percent of normal for the month, said Johnson.

"Rainfall varies considerably across the network. Storms may be seen at one measurement location and be all but missed by another," Johnson noted.

White Rock had even less measurable precipitation: only .64 inches of precipitation was recorded at the Technical Area 54 measuring station. The total is 31 percent of the normal 2.07 inches for July.

It also was warmer than normal last month in the two towns. The mean maximum temperature in Los Alamos of 83 degrees Fahrenheit was 2 degrees greater than normal. The mean minimum temperature of 56 F was 1 F above normal.

In White Rock last month, the mean maximum temperature of 89 F was 3 F above normal. The mean minimum temperature of 56 F also was 1 F above normal, and the mean temperature of 72 F was 2 F above normal, said Johnson.

No high temperature records were tied or established in either White Rock or Los Alamos in July. But an overnight low of 64 F July 9 in White Rock set a high minimum temperature mark, said Johnson.

Johnson noted that the seasonal outlook for the period from August through October calls for slightly above normal temperatures and a slight chance of above normal precipitation.

Los Alamos had a wind gusts of 40 miles per hour or greater on July 3 and 31.

-- Steve Sandoval

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