Drought-proof Ruby Saltbush

Only the middle week of July was not warmer than normal. Nearly all days and nights were above average for this coldest time of the year, but none was exceptional. No night minimum was as warm as ten degrees. There were 15 frosts (normally 17), but, as happened in July 2009 and 2010, there were no severe frosts reading below minus two degrees in the screen.
Rain was recorded on the 8th and 9th, estimated as 5.0 mm and 5.5 mm.

Comparing July months

The last three July months saw maximum, mean, and minimum temperatures steadily rising, with the temperature range (17 deg) staying high. That was not true earlier in the decade: from 2008 to 2012 temperatures were steady and the daily temperature range (14 deg) was low, with cool days and warm nights. It was the case again in July 2015 and 2016, as shown here.
Indicators of moisture were again low, but not as low as in July 2018, with its record low dewpoint and cloudiness. The (estimated) rainfall total of 10.5 mm is at the 14th percentile for July.

Drought

I have reported separately on the on-going drought that continues to break low-rainfall records at durations of 15-months and longer.

Data. A Bureau of Meteorology automatic rain gauge operates in the museum yard. From 17 March 2017, 9 am daily readings are published as Manilla Museum, Station 55312.  These reports use that rainfall data when it is available.  Since no 9 am readings have been recorded since August 2018, I have substituted my non-standard gauge readings for all days.
All other data, including subsoil at 750 mm, are from 3 Monash Street, Manilla.