On July 4, 1989, the high temperature in Fargo Moorhead was 97
degrees. It was a new record high for Independence Day, besting
the previous record of 95 degrees set in 1948. Too many, it was
likely just another hot day in a series of hot summers during
the drought in the late 1980s. It was of course, the 4th of
July, it is always hot on the 4th, or is it? In Fargo Moorhead
at least, hot weather on July 4 has been a rarity. Since 1881,
the official high locally has been at or above 90 degrees only 8
times. In fact, the high temperature has been in the 60s more
frequently than the 90s for our Independence Day celebrations.
Coincidentally, July 4 has the fewest number of 90 degree days
of any day during July. On Monday, the official high in Fargo
Moorhead was 93 degrees, the first 90 degree day since that
record in 1989 and if the pattern continues, we may not record
another hot July 4 for several years to come.