Weather roundup: July was for the record books

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July was a month for the record books. The National Weather Service said La Crosse had its warmest July ever, with an average temperature of just under 80 degrees. That’s one-tenth of a degree higher than the previous record of 79-and-a-half set in 1936. Milwaukee, Madison, and Wausau all had their second-warmest Julys on record. Madison’s average temperature for the month was just above 79-degrees. Milwaukee averaged about 78-and-a-half, and Wausau averaged 76. Green Bay had its third hottest July in history, with an average reading of 76. Packerland had 14 days of 90-plus temperatures last month, which broke a record set in 1921. The average high in La Crosse was just over 91-degrees last month – and it got above 100 twice, on July fourth-and-sixth. Rainfall varied throughout Wisconsin, and the Weather Service said La Crosse got just over two-inches for the month – about two-and-a-quarter inches below normal. Today, forecasters predict highs in the 80’s statewide under clear to partly cloudy skies, with a slight chance of rain.

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Farmers badly needed the recent rains, but allergy sufferers didn’t. Milwaukee Pollen-Dot-Com said its mold count on July 23rd was the highest since it started keeping records in 1995. Allergist Gary Steven said the mold count in southeast Wisconsin hit 73-thousand-946 spores per cubic meter, well above the old record of 68-thousand spores set in September of 2010. Steven runs the Milwaukee Pollen Web site as part of his allergy centers in Mukwonago and Greenfield. He said mold normally grows very well in the Badger State – but it was not growing at all when it was dry-and-hot for days. With sporadic thunderstorms the past couple of weeks, Steven said the mold received the moisture it needed to grow by leaps-and-bounds. And occasionally strong winds have done a good job of spreading the particles. Yesterday, Milwaukee Pollen reported a mold of 12-thousand-209 spores per cubic meter – 25-percent above the norm for the date. Wisconsin has had a longer pollen season than normal, thanks to the mild winter. And the ragweed season is about to begin this month. If we get more heat-and-rain, Steven says folks could be in for a rough time.

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