June cooler and wetter than
normal in much of Alaska
Ketchikan, cool and wet with
record low temperature on June 19th
July 22, 2008
Tuesday
During June 2008, cooler and wetter than normal conditions prevailed
for much of the state. A notable exception was the warmer than
normal temperatures along the Arctic coast, with temperature
departures of more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit for the month. A
couple of daily low temperatures were recorded at locations in
southern portions of the state, along with a record daily snowfall
in Nome. The seasonal snowpack in Barrow disappeared in early
June. However, Barrow residents can expect snow at any time during
the summer at their maritime Arctic location. Finally, daylight
hours began decreasing after the summer solstice passed on June
20.
Ketchikan saw a record low temperature in what was a cool and
wet June. The daily low for the month, 36 degrees Fahrenheit,
occurred on June 19 and set a record for that date. The average
low was 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The daily high for the month soared
to 78 degrees on June 30, while the average high was 58 degrees.
The monthly temperature averaged at 51.5 degrees, which is a
few degrees cooler than normal for June. There were four daily
precipitation events in which more than one inch was reported.
The highest daily total of 2.97 inches of precipitation was reported
on June 27. The total precipitation for the month was 11.78 inches,
making this the sixth wettest June on record in Ketchikan.
June brought cool temperatures and dry weather conditions to
Juneau this year. There were 16 days with measurable precipitation
for a monthly total of 1.66 inches. This is about half of the
normal amount for June. On the 28th,there was almost an inch
of precipitation reported at the airport, leading to flood conditions
for Montana Creek. Temperatures averaged 50.8 degrees Fahrenheit,
which is about 3 degrees cooler than normal. The low temperature
of 33 degrees on June 9 set a record for that date. The highest
temperature for the month was 69 degrees and was reported on
June 20. Average high and low temperatures were a few degrees
cooler than normal at 58 degrees and 44 degrees, respectively.
Winds at the airport averaged 6 mph for the month.
Cool and dry weather greeted Anchorage this June. The average
temperature of 52.2 degrees Fahrenheit was 2.5 degrees cooler
than normal. The average high and low temperatures were 59 degrees
and 46 degrees, respectively. On June 17, the high for the month
was reported. It was 67 degrees. On June 9, the low of 39 degrees
occurred. Precipitation was a little more than half the normal
amount, with 0.63 inches. The highest daily total of a quarter
inch occurred June 22. Winds averaged 7.8 mph. On June 27, the
highest wind gust
of 38 mph occurred.
In June, precipitation was
relatively heavy in Fairbanks. The Fairbanks International Airport
reported nearly 2.1 inches, the most precipitation recorded in
June since 1994. It was 0.68 inches more than the normal June
total. Temperatures averaged near normal for the month, with
a mean of 60.2 degrees Fahrenheit. The average daily high and
low was 70 degrees and 50 degrees, respectively. The mercury
reached 81 degrees Fahrenheit on three afternoons during the
month: June 21, 22, and 26. The low of 42 degrees occurred on
June 6. Winds averaged 4.5 mph and the highest gust at the airport
was 38 mph out of the northwest.
Weather conditions in Big Delta were not far from average in
June. The mean temperature 56.7 degrees Fahrenheit, and total
precipitation was 2.24 inches. The high for the month was 79
degrees, which occurred on June 21. The low for the month was
44 degrees, reported on June 6, 11, 13, and 29. The average high
and low temperatures were 65 degrees and 48 degrees, respectively.
A trace or more of precipitation occurred on 21 days during June,
with the greatest daily total of 0.56 inches on the 23rd.
The seasonal snowpack at the Barrow airport was down to a mere
trace by June 5 and only a tenth-of-an-inch of snowfall was reported
for the month. Precipitation totaled almost half an inch, which
is more than normal for June. Temperatures averaged a few degrees
warmer than normal for June. The mean temperature was 37.2 degrees
Fahrenheit. The average high and low temperatures were 42 degrees
and 32 degrees, respectively. The high for the month was 61 degrees
on June 29. The low of 26 degrees occurred June 1, 2, 3, and
19. Heating degree-days totaled 830 units, about 75 less than
normal. Winds averaged almost 10 mph for the month. The highest
gust of 41 mph came out of the southeast on June 2.
Even though the seasonal snowpack had disappeared in Nome, the
winter was still hanging on in June. There was 2.8 inches of
snow during the month, with 2.4 inches arriving on June 11. This
snowfall set a record total for the date. The snow did not stick
around long, though. The average temperature for the month was
44.5 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 2.8 degrees cooler than normal
for June. The average daily high and low temperatures were 50
degrees and 39 degrees, respectively. The highest and lowest
temperatures for the month were 64 degrees on June 21 and 31
degrees June 12. Precipitation totaled 1.13 inches, right about
normal for June. Winds averaged 7.2 mph for the month. On June
6, the highest gust, 31 mph, was reported at the airport out
of the west.
Cool and dry conditions occurred in King Salmon this June, with
a monthly mean temperature of 48.5 degrees Fahrenheit. The monthly
total precipitation was 1.34 inches. The average high and low
temperatures were 57 degrees and 40 degrees, respectively. The
daily high and low temperatures were 66 degrees on June 17 and
31 degrees on June 11. Winds averaged 9 mph at this Bristol Bay
location and the highest reported gust at the airport was a hefty
56 mph out of the east on June 25.
This information consists of preliminary climatological data
that was compiled by Martha Shulski at the Alaska Climate Research
Center, Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks.
On the Web:
Alaska Climate Research Center,
Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks.
http://climate.gi.alaska.edu
Source of News & Graphic:
Alaska Climate Research Center
http://climate.gi.alaska.edu
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