(SitNews) - Ketchikan received a whopping 144 inches of rain in 2012 with a few new records set during the year. According to National Weather Service data, believe it or not, Ketchikan recorded 27.3 inches less annual rainfall in 2012 than in 2011. The previous year, 171.3 inches were recorded. However, Ketchikan recorded 4.56 inches more rainfall in 2012 than in 2010.

January was the top month for recorded precipitation in 2012, with 22.26 inches of rain, which was 45% above the expected amount of 15.40 inches. In 2011, Ketchikan recorded 14.89 inches for the month of January. In January 2010, Ketchikan recorded 22.11 inches.

Since 1992, historical weather summaries have been provided by the Alaska Climate Research Center. Ketchikan's historical weather summary for 2012 is as follows:

In December 2012, Ketchikan reported an average temperature of 34 degrees Fahrenheit, 1.3 degrees below the long-term mean. Ketchikan's month’s maximum temperature was 45 degrees, which occurred on the 31st. Ketchikan's month’s minimum temperature of 19 degrees was reported on the 23rd and 26th of December.

December's precipitation was light in Ketchikan, totaling 9.86 inches. This was just 69 percent of the long-term mean of 14.23 inches.

Ketchikan reported an average temperature in November of 39.9°F, 1.5°F above the long-term mean of 38.4°F. The maximum temperature for the month was 53°F, which occurred on the 4th, while the minimum (21°F) was reported on the 1st, and this was a new daily record low, the old record of 24°F was set in 1984. For most the rest of the month, temperatures stayed around normal.

November's precipitation was near normal, totaling 17.11", or just 3% above of the long term mean of 16.63".

Ketchikan reported an average temperature in October of 43.0°F, 2.3°F below the long-term mean of 45.3°F. The maximum temperature for the month of October was 61°F, which occurred on the 7th, while the minimum (20°F) was reported on the 30th. Temperatures tended to the warm side for the first half of the month, then turned cold for the remainder. Exemplifying the cold spell at the end of the month were three record cold events. First, on the 22nd, the temperature dropped to 28°F, breaking the old record of 29°F set way back in 1919. Then on the 24th, the low temperature of 28°F tied the record from 1991. Finally, on the 29th the low of 25°F matched the record also set in 1991.

October's precipitation was light, totaling 8.73", or just 45% of the long term mean of 19.22".

Ketchikan reported average temperature in September of 53.3°F, 0.8°F above the long-term mean of 52.5°F. The maximum temperature for the month was 67°F, which occurred on the 7th, while the minimum (41°F) was reported on the 16th.

Precipitation in September was near normal, totaling 14.43", or just 5% above the long term mean of 13.79".

In August, Ketchikan reported slightly colder than average temperatures, with a mean temperature of 57.5°F, -0.5°F under the long-term mean of 58.0°F. The maximum temperature for the month was 75°F, which occurred on the 17th, while the minimum (45°F) was reported on the 30th.

Precipitation in August was significantly lower for Ketchikan than normal, reporting 5.68", or just 58% of the long term mean of 9.81".

In July, Ketchikan reported slightly colder than average temperatures, with a mean temperature of 57.5°F, -0.2°F under the long-term mean of 57.7°F. The maximum temperature for the month was 75°F, which occurred on the 15th, while the minimum (43°F) was reported on the 3rd.

July's precipitation was higher than normal, reporting 9.06", or 138% of the long term mean amount of 6.57". Despite the large amount of rain that fell, no new records were set.

Ketchikan's average temperature of 52.7°F in June was 1.4°F below the long-term mean. The highest temperature of the month measured 81°F and occurred on the 23rd of June, tying the record for this day, set in 2004. The monthly low temperature of 37°F transpired on June 4th.

Monthly precipitation in June of 9.85" was nearly 50% above the long-term mean of 6.60". No new records were set.

In May, Ketchikan's average temperature of 46.1°F was 2.5°F below the long-term mean. While being below normal, the temperature trend was close to the expected values for most of the month of May. The highest temperature of the month measured 64°F, which occurred on the 24th of May, while the low temperature of 36°F occurred on the 8th, 9th and 13th of the month.

Ketchikan's monthly precipitation in May was high with 19.25", more than doubling the long term mean of 8.20". Remarkably, 4.73" of rain fell on 6th of May, surpassing by a large amount the old record for this day of 2.40", set in 1959. This total received within a single day surpasses the long-term annual total for Barrow. On the following day, 4.26" of rain were reported, again smashing the previous record for this day of 2.60", which was set in 1973.

Ketchikan's average temperature of 43.7°F in April was 1.2°F above the long-term mean. Generally, the temperature was close to normal for most of the month of April. The highest temperature of the month measured 57°F, which occurred both on the 9th and 25th, while the low temperature of 31°F occurred on the 4th, 5th and 24th of the month.

Monthly precipitation in April was measured at 7.98", fairly close to the normal of 9.38", with a deviation of -15%. Remarkably, 1.71" of rain, 21% of the total precipitation, fell in Ketchikan on the 20th of the month.

Ketchikan's average temperature of 35.8°F in March was 2.0°F below the long-term mean. Generally, the temperature was slightly below normal for most of the month of March with the exception of the last week. The highest temperature of the month measured at 51°F, which occurred both on the 27th and 28th of March, while the low temperature of 22°F occurred on the 5th of the month.

Monthly precipitation in March was measured at 10.69", very close to the normal of 10.89". The 8th of the month was notable with a precipitation total of 2.18".

Ketchikan's average temperature of 37.1°F in February was 1.3°F above the long-term mean, a relatively small deviation. Generally, the temperature was above normal for most of the month in Ketchikan with the exception of the last week. The highest temperature of the month measured 53°F on the 9th of February, while the low temperature of 24°F occurred on the 26th of the month. On the 2nd the maximum temperature of 50°F matched the record set in Ketchikan in 1964.

February's monthly precipitation was measured at 9.32", somewhat below the normal of 10.53". The 2nd of the month had a notable 1.98" of precipitation.

Ketchikan's average temperature of 32.0°F in January was 2.9°F below the long-term mean. Compared with most of the rest of Alaska, this is a relatively small deviation, as Alaska was, across the whole state, significantly below normal for January. The highest temperature of the month in Ketchikan measured 49°F on the 4th, while the low temperature of -2°F occurred on the 19th of January. Worth noting was the short but deep cold spell in Ketchikan shortly after the middle of the month. This included a new record low temperature on the 19th at -2°F, a substantial 7°F below the previous record of 5°F that had been set in 1972.

January's 2012 monthly precipitation in Ketchikan was measured at 22.26", 45% above the expected amount of 15.40". Notable events occurred in Ketchikan on the 1st and the 7th of January, with 2.32" and 2.35" of precipitation, respectively.

Sources of News: 

Alaska Climate Research Center,
http://climate.gi.alaska.edu/

National Weather Service
www.arh.noaa.gov

SitNews ©2013
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska

Articles & photographs that appear in SitNews may be protected by copyright and may not be reprinted without written permission from and payment of any required fees to the proper sources.