August is fourth-warmest on record

A pair of 70-degree days escorted out the fourth-warmest August in Juneau history since modern recordkeeping began in 1936.

According to the National Weather Service, temperatures at Juneau International Airport — the city’s official measuring point — averaged 58.6 degrees, 2.6 degrees above normal for the month.

That average makes August the 11th consecutive month with above-normal temperatures in Juneau and keeps the capital city on pace for its warmest year in modern history. The previous record-holder is last year.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The thermometer reached 76 degrees on Aug. 27, breaking the record of 75 degrees set in 1941. Temperatures reached 73 degrees on Aug. 28, tying a record set in 1989.

Temperatures have averaged above normal every month in Juneau since September 2015, when they were 0.8 degrees below average. That’s the only month below normal in the past two and a half years — March 2014 averaged 2.3 degrees below normal, according to the Alaska Climate Research Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

While Juneau fell short of its outright warmest August ever, two other Southeast locations set records last month.

Annette Island, home to Ketchikan’s airport, saw a record monthly average of 63.6 degrees, beating the mark of 62.9 degrees set in 1977. Yakutat also saw its warmest August ever, averaging 57.7 degrees — the old record was 57.0 degrees in 2004.

The above-normal temperatures were accompanied by rainfall only slightly above normal for the month. The airport measuring station recorded 5.97 inches of rainfall, less than a quarter-inch above the 5.73 inches that is normal for August.

Since the start of the year, Juneau has seen 36.52 inches of precipitation, a term that includes rain and melted snow. The norm for this point in the year is 33.42 inches.

After a sunny and warm Labor Day weekend, the Weather Service is calling for a return to typical Juneau autumn weather with rain, clouds and lower temperatures.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 15

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Wednesday, March 12, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Gabriel von Eisenstein (David Cangelosi) is pulled in two separate directions by his wife Rosalinda (Sara Radke Brown, right) and Rosalinda’s maid, Adele (Kayla Kohlhase, left) during a dress rehearsal of “Die Fledermaus” on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Lyric Opera celebrates a chorus of community for 50th anniversary

German operetta “Die Fledermaus” that launched JLO gets revival with old and new voices Friday night.

The Cable Innovator docks in Juneau on Wednesday, March 13, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Subsea communications cable repair ship makes port stop in Juneau between Southeast projects

Cable Innovator wraps up work in Sitka, now heads for Angoon following regional outage.

The Office of Personnel Management in Washington. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
Judge orders Trump administration to rehire thousands of fired workers; at least some to get back pay

Treasury, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy and Interior departments affected by order.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Tuesday, March 11, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Monday, March 10, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Sunday, March 9, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Most Read