Various places in Southeast break temperature records for May 17

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Thursday, May 18th, 2023 2:57pm

By Jasz Garrett

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On May 17, Juneau set a new record of 73 degrees. It breaks an old record of 72 set in 2014. This photo shows the sun shining at a Mendenhall Wetlands state refuge. (Photo credit Jasz Garrett/KINY)

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - There's a chance more temperature records could be broken Thursday, before slipping back into the familiar rainy days.

Grant Smith is a meteorologist with National Weather Service Juneau. He talked to News of the North about the warm temperatures Southeast has been experiencing.

"On May 17, Juneau broke a new record, we hit 73 degrees for our high, and this breaks the old record of 72 set back in 2014," he shared. "Today we were once again looking at reaching low to mid-70s around the area. Our record for May 18 is a record high of 74 set back in 2018. So, we're forecasting at least tying that record. But you know, we may end up getting a couple degrees warmer."

Smith said unless there's a sudden drop, the month of May is shaping up to be at near or above normal temperatures.

Friday, clouds and possible rain will be coming in, putting an end to a rare sunny day streak.

Late Thursday night into Friday morning, there is a marine wind statement.

"The front that's going to come in bringing us the clouds and the rain; it's going to be bringing in some strong winds for the marine areas and marine waters. Pushing that 20 to 25 knot, wind speed, but we put up the statement because we're going to be going from these light winds to a south 20, 25 in a very quick timeframe when that front arrives wherever you are," Smith said. "The winds are going to swing to the south quickly and pick up speed. And that's going to last in the Juneau area, late tonight through just early tomorrow morning. Once we get past about 10 am to noon, we're gonna go right back to lighter winds."

There is a small craft advisory and Smith said it's up to boat owners if they think their boat can handle the wind. But since it's such a short timeframe, he suggests avoiding going out on the water then to be safe.

Other places in Southeast have also been seeing above-normal temperatures.

"Just yesterday [Wednesday] Ketchikan broke a record, they hit 77 when their old record was 76. Also, Elfin Cove, Little Port Walter, Petersburg all broke records. Craig also tied their record," Smith shared. "So we're seeing this very warm air sitting over us. We'll probably see some more near-record temperatures today. And then just a big swing in the weather back to the cloudy, rainy pattern."

Smith added that late next week, there could potentially be another break from the rain.

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