In 1971, there was a record setting stretch of 17 days without rain during September and October. In 2012, there was a 13-day stretch during the
same period with dry weather, according to NOAA meteorologist David Levin based in Juneau.
Levin says the lowest total on record for precipitation for October came in 2012. And it steadily increased with 13.76 inches the next year, 15.97 inches in 2014, and 19.27 inches falling last year.
He says there’s a chance the total rainfall for October this year could challenge the 2012 amount of 6.12 inches, or crack the top five for driest on record. But as anyone who calls Southeast Alaska home knows, that could change in a hurry, he says.
As of Tuesday, Petersburg’s monthly rain fall for October was 1.51 inches, with the majority of it coming in recent days. The monthly total includes .12 inches that fell on Oct. 5 breaking up what could have made a nice consecutive days stretch. The streak began on Sept. 29, and if it weren’t for the Oct. 5 rainfall, would have lasted until Oct. 13.
For context, a dry day is considered any day with precipitation less than .01 inches, so a trace amount could fall but still count as a dry day. The other historically dry years for October include 8.23 inches in 1950, 8.63 inches in 1969, 8.99 inches in 1951, and 9.08 inches in 1957.
Levin says climate predictions for winter in Petersburg should be slightly cooler temperatures than normal. As for precipitation, he says to expect average rainfall compared to what’s been seen in recent years.
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