June was a cool, wet month for most Alaskans
Published Sunday, July 20, 2008
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.
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. The average daily high and low was 70 degrees and 50 degrees, respectively. The mercury reached 81 degrees 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, 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 June 23.
Cool and dry weather greeted Anchorage this June. The average temperature of 52.2 degrees 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.
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. 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 were 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, 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, 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.
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 June 28,there was almost an inch of precipitation reported at the airport, leading to flood conditions for Montana Creek. Temperatures averaged 50.8 degrees, 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.
Ketchikan saw a record low temperature in what was a cool and wet June. The daily low for the month, 36 degrees, occurred on June 19 and set a record for that date. The average low was 45 degrees. 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.
Cool and dry conditions occurred in King Salmon this June, with a monthly mean temperature of 48.5 degrees. 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 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. For more information on weather and climatology, contact the center at 474-7885.
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Let's see: is this global warming, climate change or a natural cycle.
Who accurately predicted last months weather, just asking.
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