Grand Junction's July Heat Reached New Highs

While Western Colorado is no stranger to hot summers, July 2026 felt like one of the hottest in recent memory. But did it actually rank among the hottest Julys ever recorded at Grand Junction's Walker Field?

Here's how July compared with more than a century of climate records.

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Why July Felt So Much Hotter Than Normal

Did Grand Junction Just Have One of Its Hottest Julys Ever? — Google Street

July in Grand Junction didn’t just feature hot afternoons; it featured weeks of relentless triple-digit or near-triple-digit heat. The National Weather Service office reports we experienced an extended stretch of above-normal temperatures in July, and we’ve begun August the same way. Persistent high pressure kept the daytime hot, and limiting cloud cover prevented overnight cooling.

How July 2026 Compared With Grand Junction's Hottest Julys

Grand Junction’s record-setting summer of 2023 was the year the city reached an all-time high of 107 degrees. Back in 2003, we experienced 12 days straight with a high of 100 degrees or more. We almost did that again this year.

Final monthly rankings will depend on NOAA’s official summary, but the month was clearly well above the long-term July average of daytime highs at 93 degrees (the July average). Now let's look at what made July 2026 so friggin' hot.

The Heat Streak Grand Junction Won't Soon Forget

See Stunning Photos of Colorado's Snyder Mesa Fire — Doug Steele KKNN Facebook

In July of 2026, Grand Junction reached triple-digit highs 15 times. We touched 104 degrees for three days in a row (July 12, 13, 14). We know the average high temperature for July in Grand Junction is 93. In 2026, the city hit 97 degrees or higher 24 out of 31 days.

What about rainfall in July? It was pathetic. The city’s official rainfall total from the NWS office was .07 inches for the month. The average is .59 inches. Monsoon conditions passed over the Grand Valley in July, but Grand Junction did not benefit from measurable rainfall.

LOOK: 10 Places To Stay Cool This Summer in Grand Junction, Colorado

As summer temperatures arrive in the Grand Valley, Grand Junction has a number of places that can help keep you cool. Scroll through the photos below to find a place to cool off. Know of more places? Share them with us on the station app and we will add them to the list.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

MORE: Beat the Heat at These Grand Valley Pools and Splash Pads

When Grand Junction temperatures climb into the 90s and triple digits, families start looking for affordable ways to stay cool without leaving town. Fortunately, Grand Valley residents have several options, from the Olympic-sized Lincoln Park-Moyer Pool to the lazy river at the Fruita Community Center and the free splash pad at Dos Rios Park.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

UP NEXT: See Stunning Photos of Colorado's Snyder Mesa Fire

Throughout the Snyder Mesa Fire, Grand Valley listeners shared photos showing towering smoke columns, glowing ridgelines, aircraft battling the flames, and the wildfire's impact on communities west of Grand Junction.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

Source: Did Grand Junction Just Have One of Its Hottest Julys Ever?