After the cool and damp June, July did begin with a decent stretch of warm and dry weather.  However, there was a period of cool and damp weather in a number of communities around the third week of July, that ended up impacting the overall perception of the month.  Sydney only had two days that reached 20C in the 10 day period between July 20th and 29th (when I visited Cape Breton). This impacted the high temperature average of 20.5, which was much cooler than the normal 23.1C.  Most other locations were near or slightly below the normal of 23 to 25C. Western sections of the Maritimes received a half or less of the average rainfall.  Moncton was closer to normal.  Halifax and Sydney had 30 or 40 percent higher than normal rainfalls.  In fact, during the cool period, Sydney received over 95mm, and Halifax over 90mm of rainfall.  Anyone with the last two weeks of July as vacation can attest to this! Nevertheless, Cape Breton was not even close to what happened in Newfoundland, where it was the coldest ever July in St. John’s: Now that we are in August, the month has started quite nicely in the Maritimes.  However, St. John’s was still chilly Saturday afternoon.     The long weekend continues warm and dry.  However, looking at the ensemble of 40 models, next week looks turn a bit cooler, with passing showers most likely late Tuesday or Wednesday… and possible again going into the weekend.   The extended chart shows the West and central Arctic remaining warm, under a ridge.  With a trough and cool pattern over Ontario-Quebec, I would say August will have some variety, but end up with temperatures near or a bit warmer than normal: I love August… and I’ll be turning 60 later this month… hoping for great weather for an outdoor party.