Cortez received 1.01 inches of precipitation in July, which is nearly an inch more than the 0.11 inches seen last July.
“We certainly did much better than last July,” said Jim Andrus, a Cortez weather spotter for the National Weather Service.
Still, this year’s number is 81% of the 1.25 inches that were expected, based on the 30-year average for the month.
The weather this year has been very erratic, Andrus said.
In March, the city received 101% of normal precipitation for the month, 49% for April, 5% for May and 486% for June.
“We’ve gotten enough precipitation, especially thanks to June, that Montezuma County is no longer in any form of drought. We are drought free for the moment,” Andrus said.
The year-to-date precipitation – 6.48 inches – is 105% above where it normally sits, at 6.15 inches.
At this time last year, the year-to-date precipitation reached 9.46 inches, 154% more than normal, even with the lack of rain in July 2023.
This past month was consistently warm, though there was no record high or low temperatures. On July 26, it reached 97 degrees, which tied a previous daily record.
For the next 30 days, there’s a high probability temperatures will be above normal. At the same time, there’s equal chance for above or below what’s considered normal precipitation.
“The weather has been so crazy it almost looks like a dice game. Roll the dice and see what comes up: Dry or wet,” he said.
Over the next 90 days, higher than normal temperatures are expected. And there’s a good chance that precipitation will be below normal.
“That, we certainly don’t want to see. It means higher fire danger and stress on farmers raising crops and on the ranchers trying to keep their herds watered,” Andrus said.
