Juneau sees warmest pair of May days in 74 years, but no record

It wasn’t a record, but only just.

According National Weather Service measurements taken at Juneau International Airport, Juneau’s thermometer reached 73 degrees at 5 p.m. Wednesday. On Thursday, temperatures hit 73 by 3 p.m. before receding.

Wednesday’s mark was only two degrees off the record 75 degrees recorded on May 11, 1942 and is the second-highest temperature recorded for the date. Juneau’s record history goes back to 1936.

Wednesday marked the first time temperatures topped 70 degrees in the capital city since Aug. 26.

Warm weather continued to occupy much of Southeast Alaska on Wednesday, with a record-high temperature of 75 recorded on Annette Island near Ketchikan. The previous record for that location was 73 degrees in 1942.

On Thursday, Juneau’s repeat measurement of 73 degrees was again the second-highest on record and again two degrees short of a 75-degree record set in 1942.

High temperatures were expected to continue Friday and Saturday, with a possibility of record-breaking heat. Friday’s record high is 73, set in 1993, and Saturday’s is 71, also set in 1993. Both records were in jeopardy, according to forecasts from the Weather Service

Cooler, cloudier weather is expected to arrive in Juneau by Sunday.

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