Today, Tues., June 21, officially marks the start of the summer – although many parts of Alaska have experienced summer-like temperatures for the better part of the last month, and Kodiak Island is no exception.
Kodiak broke a cluster of daily temperature records at the beginning of June. That included the highest temperature recorded so far this month – 77 degrees at the Kodiak Benny Benson State Airport on June 4.
June 2 hit 76 degrees; that day’s previous record was 69 degrees set in 1957. June 12’s high of 68 degrees tied the previous record set in 1915.
Adam Przepiora is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Anchorage. He says a high pressure system has been responsible for the warm weather. That weather pattern should continue for much of the state – including Kodiak Island – in the days to come.
“This week is going to be quite warm because we have a very strong upper level ridge present over part of the state, so when that happens – the stronger that ridge is when we see the warmest temperatures,” said Przepiora.
Temperatures in Kodiak haven’t been as hot and dry as elsewhere though, like in Anchorage, which is having its third hottest and driest month on record, according to Przepiora. But Kodiak has seen just 1.61 inches of rain compared to its average of 3.66 inches for the month – and most of that fell over the course of one day last week. Although the island currently doesn’t have a burn ban in place, like other parts of the state.
The current weather forecast predicts highs around 70 degrees for the rest of the week.