Coolest Julys in ChattanoogaThe average high temperature in July in Chattanooga is 90.2 degrees. Here are the coolest Julys the area has experienced, based on average high temperatures:1906: 84.0 degrees1912: 84.5 degrees1910: 85.0 degrees1971: 85.2 degrees1918: 85.4 degreesSource: National Weather Service, Morristown, Tenn.
Here's some cold comfort: Chattanooga is on track to finish its coolest July in 34 years.
A combination of cloud cover and heavy rainfall has kept the Scenic City shaded this month. The city's average high has been 85.8 degrees so far this month, nearly 5 degrees less than its historic July average and the lowest since 1979.
A whopping 7.78 inches of rain (so far) have kept Chattanooga soaked, yet soothed from the usual summer heat.
"When you've got a lot of rain, you'll have a lot of clouds," said Mary Black, National Weather Service meteorologist in Morristown, Tenn. "When the rain comes through, it cools the air down. It's definitely a contributing factor."
Rain had fallen in Chattanooga on 19 of 24 days as of Friday. July 7 set the all-time daily precipitation record at 2.21 inches, breaking an 85-year-old figure.
This July marks a drastic change from last summer, which saw an average high temperature of 93.3 degrees in July and two back-to-back record 107-degree days.
Contact staff writer Jeff LaFave at jlafave@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592.