Ames weather in July

In July, Ames sees average daytime highs of 83°F and overnight lows near 65°F, with 3.8 in of rain across 9.6 wet days and about 14.7 hours of daylight. It is the 1st-warmest and 5th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 83°F through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 40% of the time in July, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 15 hours at the start of July to 14 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, July is Ames's 3rd-clearest and 11th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Ames's year-round climate.

Daytime high
83°
1st warmest
Overnight low
65°
12th coldest
Rainfall
3.8 in
9.6 wet days
Daylight
14 h 48 min
4:57 AM – 7:44 PM
Cloud cover
50%
3rd clearest
Wind
7 mph
11th windiest
Solar energy
6.46 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.1
out of 10

Ames is city in Story County, Iowa, United States.

Density
1,035/km²
people per km²
Founded
1864

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in July

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 83°F through the month.

A typical July day in Ames reaches about 83°F in the afternoon and slips back to 65°F overnight — a 18°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 75°F and 91°F. Set against its neighbours, July runs about 3°F warmer than June and about 2°F warmer than August.

50°60°70°80°90°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
18265
28265
38265
48265
58265
68365
78365
88365
98365
108365
118365
128366
138366
148366
158366
168366
178366
188366
198366
208366
218365
228365
238365
248365
258365
268365
278365
288265
298265
308264
318264

How July really feels in Ames

Once humidity and wind are folded in, July averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 0 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
0
wind chill below the day's low

July sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Ames weather by month

How July compares with the rest of the year at a glance. July is the 1st-warmest and 5th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan28° / 13°1.264.89.30.0
Feb33° / 16°1.46.54.710.30.0
Mar47° / 28°2.58.9311.71.5
Apr60° / 40°4.511.1113.14.6
May71° / 52°5.513.60.114.36.0
Jun80° / 62°5.111.80156.3
Jul83° / 65°3.89.6014.76.1
Aug81° / 62°4.09.2013.76.8
Sep74° / 54°3.68.5012.37.2
Oct62° / 42°2.980.510.95.5
Nov47° / 29°2.06.51.79.61.6
Dec33° / 18°1.664.590.0

Cloud cover in July

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 40% of the time in July.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 21% of July, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 39%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15842
25743
35842
45842
55842
65941
75941
85941
96040
106040
116040
126139
136139
146238
156238
166238
176337
186337
196337
206337
216337
226337
236337
246337
256337
266337
276337
286238
296238
306238
316238

Chance of precipitation in July

Any precipitation

Ames gets around 3.8 in of rain over 9.6 wet days in July. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 31% and peaks near 35% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
135
234
334
434
534
633
733
833
933
1032
1132
1232
1332
1432
1531
1631
1731
1831
1931
2031
2130
2230
2330
2430
2529
2629
2729
2828
2928
3028
3128

Humidity in July

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of July feels muggy — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, July lands in the muggy band about 30% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 51% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
110192531150
29192531150
39192531160
48182532160
58182632170
67182632171
77172632171
86162633181
96152633181
105152634191
115142634192
125142633202
135132733202
144132733213
154132732213
164132732213
174142731213
184142730213
195142730223
205142729223
215152729223
225162728223
235172727213
245172826213
255182825203
265192925203
275193024193
285203024182
296203124182
306203124172
316203124172

Wind in July

Winds average 7 mph in July.

Across July, daily wind ranges from about 7 mph on the calmest days to 8 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
18light breeze
28light breeze
38light breeze
48light breeze
58light breeze
68light breeze
78light breeze
88light breeze
98light breeze
108light breeze
118light breeze
128light breeze
138light breeze
147light breeze
157light breeze
167light breeze
177calm
187calm
197calm
207calm
217calm
227calm
237calm
247calm
257calm
267calm
277calm
287calm
297calm
307calm
317calm

Sunrise & sunset in July

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 15 hours at the start of July to 14 h 18 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 42 minutes over July. Sunrise moves from 4:47 AM to 5:10 AM, and sunset from 7:49 PM to 7:31 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
115.04:477:49
215.04:477:49
315.04:487:48
415.04:487:48
515.04:497:48
615.04:507:48
715.04:507:48
814.94:517:47
914.94:517:47
1014.94:527:47
1114.94:537:46
1214.94:547:46
1314.84:547:45
1414.84:557:45
1514.84:567:44
1614.84:577:44
1714.84:577:43
1814.74:587:42
1914.74:597:42
2014.75:007:41
2114.75:017:40
2214.65:027:39
2314.65:037:38
2414.65:047:38
2514.55:057:37
2614.55:067:36
2714.55:077:35
2814.45:077:34
2914.45:087:33
3014.45:097:32
3114.35:107:31

Solar energy in July

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in July, about 6.46 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.77 kWh/m² to a high of 6.46 kWh/m² in July across the year — July's 6.46 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.6Intense
26.6Intense
36.6Intense
46.6Intense
56.6Intense
66.5Intense
76.5Intense
86.5Intense
96.5Intense
106.5Intense
116.5Intense
126.5Intense
136.5Intense
146.5Intense
156.5Intense
166.5Intense
176.5Intense
186.4Intense
196.4Intense
206.4Intense
216.4Intense
226.4Intense
236.4Intense
246.3Intense
256.3Intense
266.3Intense
276.3Intense
286.3Intense
296.2Intense
306.2Intense
316.2Intense
Planning a trip in July

Is July a good time to visit Ames?

Our two travel scores rate July for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

6.1
Sightseeing
4th-best month of the year
7.1
Beach & pool
1st-best month of the year

July is a reasonable time to visit Ames for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Ames in July

From July's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In July, Ames sees daytime highs around 83°F and nights near 65°F. Pack light clothes and sun protection. Worth having: rain gear. About 10 days see rain.

light clothessun protectionrain gear

UV index in Ames in July

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in July peaks around 8 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Ames peaks around June 19 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 21 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJun 19UV 9Dec 21UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May7High
Jun9Very high
Jul8Very high
Aug7Very high
Sep6High
Oct4Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Ames in July

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where July falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Ames is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.2× the cleanest month (October, 7 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodModerateGoodJul 2016 µg/m³Oct 217 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan13Moderate
Feb15Moderate
Mar14Moderate
Apr11Good
May11Good
Jun12Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep12Good
Oct7Good
Nov9Good
Dec10Good
Location & terrain

Where is Ames?

Ames sits at 42.0°N, 93.6°W, 942 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Ankeny, 21 mi away.

Topography around Ames

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Ames.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Ames has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 207 ft around an average of 932 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 325 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 568 ft.

The land around Ames is covered by trees (38%) and artificial surfaces (34%) within 2 miles, cropland (74%) within 10 miles, and cropland (78%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
207 ft
10 miles
325 ft
50 miles
568 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
July weather nearby: Ankeny 21 mi · Johnston 25 mi · Altoona 28 mi · Urbandale 29 mi · Des Moines 30 mi · Clive 30 mi · West Des Moines 32 mi · Waukee 32 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Ames (42.0347°, -93.6199°, elevation 942 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).