I think we need to start by thanking all the citizens of Ketchikan. Meanwhile, back to 20.uh the year that future generations will consider the height of taboo to even mention.

Passenger - Well, how long has it been raining? Passenger - When will it stop raining? I have to get back to my ship. Me (obviously a local, not wearing a florescent rain bag): Yes, how may I help you? It is still hard to wrap my waterlogged noggin around such a concept.)Īnyway, 2017 was indeed bad (especially in August) but we got a perverse joy out of the watching the 1 million cruise passengers splashing about, desperately crowding under the awnings, waiting for the rain to pass.Ĭruise passenger under an awning - Excuse me sir, do you live here? I learned that other places actually have summers in which rain does not fall. But then I grew up (sprouted like a weed in all that precipitation) and I spent time elsewhere. Just like Fall in Ketchikan meant rain, Winter in Ketchikan meant rain and Spring in Ketchikan meant rain. Growing up in Ktown I never thought much about summer 'rainfall records.' Summer in Ketchikan meant rain. But given the fact that 2017 was a year in the Pre-COVID Era where we were not socially distanced from our Alaskan Ambers at the local dispensaries, we really didn't notice the rain than much. That year had broken the 1967 record of 41 inches in June, July and August. In 2017, there was a dribble under 47 inches recorded. In a summer that shall not be named (okay, okay, 2020), that had more disappointment (no 4th of July, no Blueberry Festival) and less money (where have all the COVID ships gone, long time passing) than we have seen in decades, we finally had a bit of excitement as Ketchikan drizzled and dripped its way to an all-time summer rainfall record of slightly more than 47 inches.ĭuring the later stages as the rain gauges not so slowly filled up, someone asked me how long the previous record had stood, no doubt expecting it to be one of those time honored marks, like Babe Ruth's homerun record, that had lasted decades and been seared into the minds of generations of locals.Īctually, the previous mark lasted exactly three years. Ketchikan, Alaska - Well, that was an exciting last week of August, whew! Column - Commentary A Brief Chat with NOAA By DAVE KIFFER

Noaa weather ketchikan