...1920... A severe hailstorm over parts of Antelope and Boone counties in Nebraska stripped trees of bark and foliage, ruined roofs, and broke nearly every window facing north.

...1941... Seattle, Washington hit 100 degrees which is the city's highest reading ever for the month of July.

...1945... The first atomic bomb was exploded at Alamogordo, New Mexico. The weather was clear after a night time thunderstorm delayed the blast.

...1946... At Newport, Rhode Island the low temperature fell to 53 degrees, setting the record low temperature for the date.  It was later tied in 1954. The temperature at Medford OR soared to an all-time high of 115 degrees to begin a two week heat wave. During that Oregon heat wave the mercury hit 100 degrees at Sexton Summit for the only time in forty years of records.

...1969... A tornado touched down near Churdan, Iowa and, of all things, began a slow west-northwest track. The tornado tracked a total of 5 miles in 30 minutes and was well-photographed.

...1975... An early afternoon thunderstorm raked the east side of Tucson AZ with gale force winds, heavy rain, and numerous lightning strikes. A thirteen year old boy was swept through a forty foot long culvert by raging waters before being rescued.

...1977... The high dew point was a very muggy 77 degrees at Newport, Rhode Island, breaking the record of 74 degrees that was set in 1952.

...1979... The worst tornado in Wyoming's history struck Cheyenne. The tornado was rated F3 on the Fujita scale, killed 1 person, and caused 22 million dollars in damage

...1983... At Newport, Rhode Island the mercury rose to 93 degrees, breaking the old record of 89 degrees that was set in 1953 and the heat index was a hot 100 degrees, breaking that record of 97 degrees set in 1977.

...1987... Showers and thunderstorms in the southwestern U.S. ended a record string of thirty-nine consecutive days of 100 degree heat at Tucson AZ. A thunderstorm at Bullhead City AZ produced wind gusts to 70 mph reducing the visibility to near zero in blowing dust. Southerly winds gusting to 40 mph pushed temperature readings above 100 degrees in the Northern Plains. Rapid City SD reported a record high of 106 degrees, following a record low of 39 degrees just three days earlier.

...1988... Thirty-seven cities in the eastern U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date. Highs of 96 degrees at Bluefield WV and 104 degrees at Charleston WV were all-time records, and afternoon highs of 98 degrees at Binghamton NY, 99 degrees at Elkins WV, and 103 degrees at Pittsburgh PA, tied all- time records. Highs of 104 degrees at Baltimore MD and 105 degrees at Parkersburg WV were records for July, and Beckley WV equaled their record for July with a high of 94 degrees. Martinsburg WV was the hot spot in the nation with a reading of 107 degrees. Afternoon and evening thunderstorms raked the northeastern U.S. with large hail and damaging winds.

...1989... Showers and thunderstorms developing along a stationary front drenched the Middle Atlantic Coast States with heavy rain, causing flooding in some areas. More than five inches of rain was reported near Madison VA and Ferncliff VA. Hot weather prevailed in Texas. San Angelo reported a record high of 106 degrees.

...1993... 1.23 inches of rain fell at Bismarck, North Dakota on this day. this brought the monthly rainfall total to 9.95 inches to set a new all-time monthly rainfall record for the city. The old monthly record was 9.90 inches set back in June, 1914. The city ended up with 13.75 inches for the month.

...1995... The last day of a 5 day sweltering heat wave in the Great Lakes area -- where temperatures had been in the 100's and dew points in the upper 70's and low 80's. 583 people died in Illinois and 57 perished in Wisconsin due to the extreme heat and high dew points. Most of the deaths (504) occurred in the Chicago metro area.