July 19
Today in weather history across America. Records, extremes, and stories from 55+ years of NOAA data.
When the Desert Froze: July 1987's Stunning Temperature Plunge
Las Vegas, NVMichael D Beckwith / CC BY 2.0
On July 19, 1987, Las Vegas residents woke to an astonishing 54 degrees Fahrenheit, a record low that still stands nearly four decades later. The temperature marked a shocking reversal in a month that had scorched the city with 111-degree heat just five days earlier on July 14.
The 57-degree temperature swing between July 14 and July 19 represented one of the most dramatic weather reversals in Las Vegas history. While the specific meteorological cause of the July 19 cooldown remains buried in archived weather reports, the timing suggests monsoon activity played a role. In typical July fashion, moisture pushes into the Mojave Desert, triggering thunderstorms that develop in the mountains surrounding the valley before moving into the basin itself. These storms bring cloud cover, rain, and cooler air that can temporarily suppress overnight temperatures. The 54-degree reading would have occurred in the predawn hours, likely following an evening of storms that cleared the oppressive heat from the atmosphere. For a city where the average July low hovers around 76 degrees, the record represented a departure of more than 20 degrees from normal.
That 1987 record low remains a testament to the desert's capacity for surprise. Even in the peak of summer, when triple-digit heat dominates, the right combination of moisture and timing can deliver a morning that feels more like spring than the height of the Southwest summer.
July 19 By the Numbers
Temperature Leaderboard
Records Broken Across America
Full report →Daily heat (orange) and cold (blue) records by state on July 17, 2026. Source: NOAA.
More From July 19
Kingshuk Mondal / CC BY 4.0
Seattle hits 98°F on July 19, 2015: A scorching anomaly
On July 19, 2015, Seattle experienced a dramatic departure from its typical summer pattern when the thermometer soared to 98°F, shattering the record high for this date by a significant margin. This extreme heat stands in stark contrast to the city's average high of just 77°F for July 19, recorded over 54 years of data. The record low of 50°F from 1977 further illustrates the wide range of conditions possible on this date in Seattle's maritime climate.
W.carter / CC BY-SA 4.0
San Francisco's hottest July 19 reached 86 degrees in 2015
July 19 in San Francisco typically brings mild conditions with highs around 67°F and lows near 55°F, reflecting the city's signature temperate climate. However, the record high of 86°F set in 2015 shows the Bay Area can experience significantly warmer days, with a 19-degree spread between that extreme and the more typical seasonal average. Across 55 years of records, temperatures have ranged from that 2015 peak down to 50°F in 1981.
Unknown author / CC0
Boise's July 19 record heat: 106°F in 1989 still stands
July 19 in Boise typically brings scorching heat with an average high of 92°F, but the city has experienced far more extreme conditions in its 55 years of recorded data. The record high of 106°F set in 1989 remains a striking reminder of the region's capacity for intense summer temperatures, more than 14 degrees above the climatological average. Meanwhile, the record low of 41°F in 2000 demonstrates the surprising temperature swings possible even in midsummer, with a 65-degree spread between extreme values.
Wing-Chi Poon / CC BY-SA 2.5
Cleveland sweltered to 95°F on July 19, 2019
July 19 in Cleveland typically brings warm summer conditions with an average high of 84°F, but the record books tell a more extreme story. The temperature reached a scorching 95°F in 2019, shattering the typical range by 11 degrees. Meanwhile, the coldest recorded July 19 was a brisk 50°F back in 1979, demonstrating the dramatic swings possible even in mid-summer across Northeast Ohio's climate.