All-Time Maximum Temperatures

In June, a number of cities in Alaska set all-time maximum temperature records; including: Talkeetna, Valdez, Yakutat, Unalakleet, and many others. Missing from that list were the two largest cities in Alaska. However, it turns out that several of the stations in and around Anchorage and Fairbanks did indeed set all-time station maximum temperatures. In Anchorage, the temperature at Merrill Field reached 87 degrees Fahrenheit which broke their all-time record. Of the four sites that have been the official climate location for Anchorage (Park Strip, Merrill Field, Anchorage International Airport, and the NWS Forecast Office), no higher temperature has ever been recorded. Similarly, a number of the stations in and around Fairbanks set their all-time daily maximums this June. The map below shows the station maximums for both Anchorage and Fairbanks. Readings that have a data quality "flag" have been excluded (Note: The 99 at the Experiment Station in Fairbanks, while highly dubious, is still in the record books). Even though neither city technically broke their all-time daily maximum temperature at their respective climate recording sites, an argument can be made that they each experienced their hottest day on record (6/18/13 for Anchorage and 6/26/13 for Fairbanks).