Juneau has first-ever heat advisory issued
- Jasz Garrett
- Jul 28
- 2 min read
Southeast Alaska soars into high temperatures after rainy spring
Southeast Alaska may never meet the temperatures that warrant a heat advisory in the Lower 48, but on Monday, the Juneau International Airport hit 80°F at 4 p.m.
National Weather Service Juneau Meteorologist Edward Liske said that the daily temperature record for July 28 was 81°F, set in 1982.
"We're going to be close," he said. "It's going to be either a new record or a tie for today."
In June, the weather service announced that heat advisories for Southeast Alaska would be issued at 80 degrees or higher — making Monday the first heat advisory in Juneau. Southeast Alaska would likely never meet the criteria for a heat advisory under historical standards in the Lower 48, which typically require temperatures of 100°F or higher. Juneau’s record-high temperature was set at 90 degrees on July 7, 1975.
Liske said usually, the region averages one or two days at 80°F every other year, making the temperature rare enough to use as a benchmark for a heat advisory.
He also gave some advice, as it's rare for buildings in Southeast Alaska to have air conditioning.
"Drink plenty of fluids if you're out and about doing activities or whatnot, and check up on elderly or vulnerable relatives that might not have easy access to air conditioning," Liske said. "Since a lot of the buildings around here don't have air conditioning, maybe try and find a community building or something that has air conditioning if you can't really stand the heat. Be wary of vehicle interiors that are left out in the sun. They might get really hot in this type of weather, so don't leave young children or pets in cars."
Haines, Yakutat, and Skagway had also hit 80°F as of 4 p.m. Monday, with 85°F recorded at the Haines Harbor. Gustavus and Hoonah were still teetering on the edge.
Liske said he expects Juneau to be cloudier on Tuesday, with a 90-100% chance of rainfall in the afternoon. The temperatures should still be around mid-to-upper 60s.
• Contact Jasz Garrett at jasz@juneauindependent.com or (907) 723-9356.
