July 2024 was a little warmer but much drier than average. The average temperature was 69.9 degrees, about 1.9 degrees above average. Rainfall for the month across the valley was sparse, as much of the central and especially southern parts of the valley recorded totals of less than a half inch.

Northern sections received the most rain, only about 0.75″ to 1.25″ which was still quite a bit below average. The driest area was centered on the towns of Taos and Ranchos de Taos, where amounts were mainly less than a quarter of an inch, some 1.50″ below average.

The month started out with near average temperatures through the the first 12 days with highs in the 80s and lows in the upper 40s to mid 50s. Storms were most numerous on the 8th, where a heavy rain with small hail fell along the US 64 corridor near the OBL. It then warmed up for the middle of the month as highs climbed into upper 80s to low 90s. A brief cooldown occurred on the 21st and 22nd as highs stayed below 80 degrees with some storms around. Temperatures then warmed up to above average for the rest of the month, with highs in the upper 80s to low 90s.

Highs during the month averaged about 2.5 degrees above average, with lows just about 1.3 degrees above average. There were several days during the second and third weeks where lows dipped to the upper 40s to low 50s, which is a little below average. The warmest high for the month was 93 degrees on the 14th and 31st, while the coldest high was 78 degrees on the 8th. The warmest low was 59 degrees on the 15th, and the coldest low of 45 degrees occurred on the 7th.

One of the most notable features of the month weatherwise was the persistent cooling afternoon and evening winds which blew westward from the storms over the mountains to the east. Many times these easterly winds were quite strong in spots, like at my northside location, where there were 19 days with gusts over 35 mph, and 8 of those days had gusts over 40 mph. The day with the highest average wind speed was on the 8th, while the highest gust of 47 mph occurred on the 20th.

Here are the actual numbers for the month at the 4 NNW Taos location…

Average Temp . . . . 69.9 degrees, +1.9 degrees above average

Average High . . . . . 87.1 degrees, +2.5 degrees above average

Average Low . . . . . 52.6 degrees, +1.3 degrees above average

Total rain. . . . . . . . . 0.79 inches, -0.92 inches below average

July 2024 Rainfall

JUL 2024 DAILY DATA for 4 NNW Taos

DATE	HIGH	LOW	DAILY DEP.	MON. DEP.	RAIN	REMARK
1	80	60	+2.8	+2.8	0.04″
2	85	56	+3.1	+2.9	Trace
3	88	52	+2.7	+2.9
4	91	51	+3.5	+3.0
5	87	52	+2.1	+2.8
6	86	52	+1.1	+2.6
7	88	45	-1.2	+2.0
8	78	53	-2.6	+1.4	0.58″	Pea size hail 150-157 PM
9	84	48	-1.6	+1.1
10	87	49	-0.5	+0.9	0.02″
11	87	49	-1.0	+0.8	Trace
12	86	51	0.0	+0.7	Trace
13	92	51	+3.2	+0.9	Trace
14	93	57	+6.8	+1.3	Trace
15	91	59	+6.4	+1.7	Trace
16	92	55	+4.8	+1.9	Trace
17	86	55	+2.1	+1.9	0.11″
18	85	50	-0.8	+1.7
19	89	53	+2.6	+1.8	Trace
20	86	54	+1.7	+1.8	0.01″
21	79	56	-0.8	+1.6	Trace
22	79	48	-4.2	+1.4
23	85	47	-1.9	+1.2
24	90	51	+2.8	+1.3	0.02″
25	89	51	+2.2	+1.3
26	88	57	+4.6	+1.5	0.01″
27	88	49	+1.0	+1.4	Trace
28	90	56	+5.5	+1.6	Trace
29	89	53	+2.8	+1.6	Trace
30	90	57	+5.3	+1.7
31	93	54	+5.5	+1.9
AVGS/ TOTAL	87.1	52.6	69.9	+1.9	0.79″

DAILY DEP. – Departure from the long term daily average temperature

MON. DEP. – Cumulative departure from the long term monthly average temperature

PCPN – Precipitation

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