July was Earth’s hottest month ever. But how high did Sacramento temperatures rise?
The hottest three weeks on record. The hottest three days on record. The hottest ocean temperatures for this time of year.
That all happened to the Earth during one single month in July.
According to a statement from the World Meteorological Organization, July was the hottest month ever recorded across the globe — from heatwaves that baked portions of Northern California, Asia and Europe to the wildfires that burned Canada and Greece.
It’s been a “cruel” and “disastrous” summer, said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. Less than a month before, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared June 2023 the hottest June on record.
“All this is entirely consistent with predictions and repeated warnings,” he said in a statement. “The only surprise is the speed of the change.”
The hottest day landed on July 6 at an average global temperature of approximately 63 degrees, according to Climate Central, a climate change nonprofit organization. July 5 and July 7 were slightly cooler, ranking in the top three warmest days in recorded history.
“At least 2 billion people around the world — one-quarter of the global population — felt a very strong influence of climate change on each day in July,” Climate Central wrote on its website.
How hot did it get in Sacramento?
Sacramento was no stranger to triple-digit temperatures in July, but the area has been hotter.
Meteorologist Kate Forrest with the National Weather Service said July 2023 was the 14th hottest July on record with an average temperature of 77.4 degrees.
The average maximum temperature was 94.3 degrees and the average minimum was 60.5 degrees.
Here’s how July’s average temperature compares to years prior with warmer averages, with data sourced from the National Weather Service:
July 1988 - 80.4 degrees
July 2003/1961 - 79.2 degrees
July 2006 - 79.1 degrees
July 1960 - 78.9 degrees
July 2005 - 78.8 degrees
July 1996 - 78.6 degrees
July 2017 - 78.4 degrees
July 1984 - 78.3 degrees
July 1967 - 78.0 degrees
July 2018 - 77.8 degrees
July 1990/ 1959 - 77.7 degrees
Forrest said July 2021 was the 15th hottest July on record in Sacramento because of the Dixie Fire, the second-largest wildfire in California’s history. The fire — which stretched across Butte, Plumas, Shasta, Lassen and Tehama counties — burned for 104 days, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The average temperature was 77.2 degrees.
July 1975 and July 2015 are also tied for the 15th hottest July in Sacramento.
In 1988, Sacramento area saw its hottest month for average temperature on record, according to NWS climate data, at 80.4 degrees. The city’s hottest day on record was last year at 116 degrees.
Looking ahead to August temperatures
Meteorologists forecast that the remainder of the summer and the beginning of fall will bring above-normal temperatures to California.
According to NOAA, there’s between 33% and 50% chance weather in California will lean above normal for this time of year. Outlooks show “equal” chances of above-normal, near-normal or below-normal rainfall for August and September.
Meaning, according to the National Weather Service, there is no clear indication of how much rain the state could receive.
Weekend weather update
In Sacramento, temperatures will steadily increase throughout the weekend until the area reaches a high near 105 degrees on Sunday. The area is forecast to exit triple-digit conditions on Tuesday with a high near 89 degrees.
The National Weather Service warned of a “widespread moderate heat risk” this weekend across the Central Valley and foothills.
An excessive heat watch will go into effect from Saturday to Monday for portions of Southern California. The area is preparing for “dangerously hot” temperatures between 108 and 117 degrees.
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