83 degrees on the porch at Telemark Drive in Girdwood. Who’d a thought? When we chose to move north because the lower 48 was heating up, who’d a thought it would be in the 80’s in Girdwood, Alaska. Girdwood is the northern terminus for the pacific coast temperate rainforest. The average summer temperature is generally 65 degrees, in July. It is June now, and we have seen high 70s going on four weeks now.
There has been high pressure over the region since mid May. NASA posted a lovely clear satellite image of the Alaska land mass, no cloud obstructions!
A remarkable image indeed.
We are not complaining, we are wishing we planted tomatoes, roses, bell peppers, beans, anything that loves the warmth. It only took a week to warm the soil, normally decorative planting begins June 1st in Girdwood. This year I began planting on May 24. I speckled my flower boxes with herbs and kale. I had to pinch the bolts off cilantro once, hoping it would keep producing. The sun would not allow this, and it bolted again a week later. Unusual indeed, but not unique. There have been other summers with record high temperatures. According to The Weather Channel.com, the highest recorded temperature was 88 in 1972. Long time Girdwood residents say there was a long sunny spell in the early 2000’s.
Today I overheard some youngsters repeating a conspiracy theory regarding government experiments with ways to keep high pressure systems in place for extended periods. I find it hard to agree, with so many factors involved: jet streams, marine layers, transpiration, blowing dust, the variables are too large to control by humans. And even if we could control them the climate deniers would have to admit is it human caused!
Due to the low humidity, lack of rain, and dry conditions, Girdwood Fire and Rescue has issued a ban on outdoor burning. Please, all residents and anyone visiting Girdwood, respect the burn ban in order to prevent wildfires and damage to wood cabins!
