Peninsula: Summer coolest in nearly 50 years

By David Klepper

Farmers and salmon looking for a reprieve from this year’s drought have received some help from cooler-than-normal temperatures.

So far, this summer is the coolest in almost 50 years, according to the National Weather Service.

Statewide, average monthly temperatures for June and July haven’t been this low since 1955, according to Jay Albrecht, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Seattle office.

A cooler-than-usual climate has lowered consumption of water, already in short supply from a mild winter.

Thanks to the winds and cool currents of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Port Angeles, Port Townsend and the rest of the North Peninsula usually enjoy summers with average temperatures in the low 60s.

But this summer, average temperatures across the state have been a few degrees lower.

“There’s no official explanation,” he said.

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