Record envelope, standing records and threshold days for Cape Spencer (USC00501334), Alaska, United States, with 39 years of record.
Key Facts for Cape Spencer
Cape Spencer (USC00501334) is a weather station in Alaska, United States at 58.20 latitude and -136.63 longitude, 27 m (89 ft) above sea level.
The station reports from 1936 to 1974, 39 years of record.
1,464 records set at Cape Spencer still stand.
Records are tracked for tmax, tmin, prcp: an element needs 30 years of data to be eligible.
Cape Spencer set a daily record low maximum temperature of 10.0 C (50.0 F) on 25 August 1974.
About the Station
Location: Alaska, United States, 58.20 latitude, -136.63 longitude.
Elevation: 27 m (89 ft).
Period of record: 1936 to 1974, 39 years.
Eligible elements: tmax, tmin, prcp.
Daily Record Envelope and 2026
0 days at or beyond a record
Record highRecord low2026 daily maximum2026 daily minimum
The band shows the record high and record low for each calendar day at Cape Spencer. The lines show the 2026 daily maximum and minimum. 0 days in 2026 matched or passed a record. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius.
Daily record high and record low at Cape Spencer, with 2026 drawn through them
Month
Highest record high
Lowest record low
2026 highest maximum
2026 lowest minimum
Jan
11.1 C (52.0 F)
-18.3 C (-0.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Feb
12.2 C (54.0 F)
-18.3 C (-0.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Mar
13.3 C (55.9 F)
-15.6 C (3.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Apr
16.7 C (62.1 F)
-7.8 C (18.0 F)
n/a
n/a
May
20.6 C (69.1 F)
-3.3 C (26.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Jun
23.3 C (73.9 F)
0.0 C (32.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Jul
23.3 C (73.9 F)
1.1 C (34.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Aug
23.9 C (75.0 F)
0.6 C (33.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Sep
21.1 C (70.0 F)
0.0 C (32.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Oct
17.2 C (63.0 F)
-4.4 C (24.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Nov
14.4 C (57.9 F)
-12.8 C (9.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Dec
11.7 C (53.1 F)
-17.2 C (1.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Which Years Hold Standing Records
1,464 standing records
Year with most
1,464 records at Cape Spencer still stand. 1939 holds the most, with 142.
Standing records at Cape Spencer by the year they were set
Year set
Standing records
1936
32
1937
83
1938
64
1939
142
1940
79
1941
47
1942
48
1943
28
1944
35
1945
34
1946
26
1947
33
1948
36
1949
13
1950
27
1951
24
1952
33
1953
21
1954
25
1955
52
1956
44
1957
34
1958
30
1959
23
1960
27
1961
31
1962
13
1963
56
1964
37
1965
35
1966
26
1967
26
1968
28
1969
25
1970
51
1971
31
1972
34
1973
20
1974
11
Wettest Day of Each Month
Nov: 186.7 mm (7.4 in)
The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Cape Spencer. The most was 186.7 mm (7.4 in) on 25 November 1956.
Record daily precipitation for each month at Cape Spencer
Month
Record daily precipitation (mm)
Date
Jan
98.0 mm (3.9 in)
7 January 1938
Feb
105.4 mm (4.1 in)
26 February 1968
Mar
106.4 mm (4.2 in)
1 March 1965
Apr
67.6 mm (2.7 in)
13 April 1971
May
127.3 mm (5.0 in)
31 May 1961
Jun
98.6 mm (3.9 in)
10 June 1951
Jul
135.6 mm (5.3 in)
15 July 1971
Aug
107.2 mm (4.2 in)
13 August 1955
Sep
182.9 mm (7.2 in)
28 September 1945
Oct
143.5 mm (5.6 in)
22 October 1948
Nov
186.7 mm (7.4 in)
25 November 1956
Dec
102.1 mm (4.0 in)
28 December 1956
Period of Record Coverage
1936 to 1974
Complete yearUnder 90 percent of days
39 years of record at Cape Spencer, 1936 to 1974. 8 years have data for under 90 percent of days and are left out of rankings: 1936, 1942, 1945, 1949, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974.
Cooler than the station meanWarmer than the station mean
One stripe for each of 27 complete years at Cape Spencer, 1937 to 1970. Blue stripes are years cooler than the station's own mean of 5.6 C (42.2 F); red stripes are warmer. The coolest year was 1956, at 4.6 C (40.2 F), and the warmest was 1940, at 6.9 C (44.5 F). The strongest colour marks a difference of 1.3 C (2.3 F).
Annual mean temperature at Cape Spencer as warming stripes, 1937 to 1970
Year
Annual mean temperature
Difference from the station mean
1937
6.6 C
+0.92 C
1938
5.6 C
-0.05 C
1939
5.3 C
-0.32 C
1940
6.9 C
+1.29 C
1941
6.7 C
+1.06 C
1946
5.3 C
-0.39 C
1947
5.8 C
+0.11 C
1948
5.0 C
-0.60 C
1950
4.7 C
-0.90 C
1952
4.9 C
-0.73 C
1953
5.4 C
-0.26 C
1954
5.2 C
-0.42 C
1956
4.6 C
-1.06 C
1957
6.3 C
+0.65 C
1958
6.3 C
+0.69 C
1959
5.9 C
+0.30 C
1960
6.3 C
+0.62 C
1961
5.8 C
+0.16 C
1962
5.7 C
+0.05 C
1963
6.1 C
+0.50 C
1964
5.1 C
-0.56 C
1965
5.1 C
-0.53 C
1966
5.1 C
-0.59 C
1967
6.0 C
+0.31 C
1968
5.9 C
+0.21 C
1969
5.6 C
-0.06 C
1970
5.4 C
-0.28 C
This station does not have enough complete years (30 are needed) to fit a temperature trend.
A year is complete when all 12 months have at least 20 days of both daily maximum and daily minimum readings. The annual mean is the mean of the monthly means. The trend describes this one station over this period; it does not say what caused the change.
Extremes by Year
1936 to 1974
Yearly extremes at Cape Spencer: the record and the median year
Measure
Record
Year of the record
Median year
Years with a value
Hottest day (TXx)
23.9 C (75.0 F)
1957
20.6 C (69.1 F)
39
Coldest night (TNn)
-18.3 C (-0.9 F)
1947
-13.3 C (8.1 F)
39
Wettest day (Rx1day)
186.7 mm (7.4 in)
1956
96.3 mm (3.8 in)
39
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
421.9 mm (16.6 in)
1948
203.7 mm (8.0 in)
39
Longest dry spell (CDD)
22 days
1938
15 days
39
Hottest day (TXx)
The hottest day of the year at Cape Spencer, 1936 to 1974. The record is 23.9 C (75.0 F) in 1957, marked on the chart; the median year is 20.6 C (69.1 F).
Hottest day (TXx) at Cape Spencer by year
Year
Hottest day (TXx)
1936
13.3 C (55.9 F)
1937
21.7 C (71.1 F)
1938
19.4 C (66.9 F)
1939
23.3 C (73.9 F)
1940
19.4 C (66.9 F)
1941
18.3 C (64.9 F)
1942
20.6 C (69.1 F)
1943
17.8 C (64.0 F)
1944
18.3 C (64.9 F)
1945
17.8 C (64.0 F)
1946
23.3 C (73.9 F)
1947
20.6 C (69.1 F)
1948
21.1 C (70.0 F)
1949
16.1 C (61.0 F)
1950
22.8 C (73.0 F)
1951
17.2 C (63.0 F)
1952
20.0 C (68.0 F)
1953
19.4 C (66.9 F)
1954
17.8 C (64.0 F)
1955
21.1 C (70.0 F)
1956
20.6 C (69.1 F)
1957
23.9 C (75.0 F)
1958
20.6 C (69.1 F)
1959
20.6 C (69.1 F)
1960
21.1 C (70.0 F)
1961
16.7 C (62.1 F)
1962
16.7 C (62.1 F)
1963
21.1 C (70.0 F)
1964
17.2 C (63.0 F)
1965
16.7 C (62.1 F)
1966
20.6 C (69.1 F)
1967
21.7 C (71.1 F)
1968
22.8 C (73.0 F)
1969
18.3 C (64.9 F)
1970
23.3 C (73.9 F)
1971
21.1 C (70.0 F)
1972
23.3 C (73.9 F)
1973
17.8 C (64.0 F)
1974
18.3 C (64.9 F)
Coldest night (TNn)
The coldest night of the year at Cape Spencer, 1936 to 1974. The record is -18.3 C (-0.9 F) in 1947, marked on the chart; the median year is -13.3 C (8.1 F).
Coldest night (TNn) at Cape Spencer by year
Year
Coldest night (TNn)
1936
-5.6 C (21.9 F)
1937
-12.2 C (10.0 F)
1938
-12.2 C (10.0 F)
1939
-13.3 C (8.1 F)
1940
-7.2 C (19.0 F)
1941
-11.7 C (10.9 F)
1942
-9.4 C (15.1 F)
1943
-15.0 C (5.0 F)
1944
-13.3 C (8.1 F)
1945
-9.4 C (15.1 F)
1946
-13.9 C (7.0 F)
1947
-18.3 C (-0.9 F)
1948
-15.0 C (5.0 F)
1949
-16.7 C (1.9 F)
1950
-11.7 C (10.9 F)
1951
-15.6 C (3.9 F)
1952
-17.2 C (1.0 F)
1953
-16.7 C (1.9 F)
1954
-15.6 C (3.9 F)
1955
-15.6 C (3.9 F)
1956
-13.9 C (7.0 F)
1957
-10.0 C (14.0 F)
1958
-7.2 C (19.0 F)
1959
-11.1 C (12.0 F)
1960
-6.1 C (21.0 F)
1961
-10.0 C (14.0 F)
1962
-12.8 C (9.0 F)
1963
-11.7 C (10.9 F)
1964
-16.1 C (3.0 F)
1965
-13.9 C (7.0 F)
1966
-12.8 C (9.0 F)
1967
-8.3 C (17.1 F)
1968
-18.3 C (-0.9 F)
1969
-15.6 C (3.9 F)
1970
-17.2 C (1.0 F)
1971
-13.9 C (7.0 F)
1972
-15.6 C (3.9 F)
1973
-10.6 C (12.9 F)
1974
-12.8 C (9.0 F)
Wettest day (Rx1day)
The wettest day of the year at Cape Spencer, 1936 to 1974. The record is 186.7 mm (7.4 in) in 1956, marked on the chart; the median year is 96.3 mm (3.8 in).
Wettest day (Rx1day) at Cape Spencer by year
Year
Wettest day (Rx1day)
1936
70.9 mm (2.8 in)
1937
109.2 mm (4.3 in)
1938
98.0 mm (3.9 in)
1939
55.9 mm (2.2 in)
1940
62.2 mm (2.4 in)
1941
61.0 mm (2.4 in)
1942
57.4 mm (2.3 in)
1943
121.2 mm (4.8 in)
1944
94.2 mm (3.7 in)
1945
182.9 mm (7.2 in)
1946
150.6 mm (5.9 in)
1947
96.3 mm (3.8 in)
1948
143.5 mm (5.6 in)
1949
109.2 mm (4.3 in)
1950
82.0 mm (3.2 in)
1951
98.6 mm (3.9 in)
1952
86.6 mm (3.4 in)
1953
85.3 mm (3.4 in)
1954
61.7 mm (2.4 in)
1955
107.2 mm (4.2 in)
1956
186.7 mm (7.4 in)
1957
90.2 mm (3.6 in)
1958
86.6 mm (3.4 in)
1959
98.6 mm (3.9 in)
1960
125.2 mm (4.9 in)
1961
127.3 mm (5.0 in)
1962
98.0 mm (3.9 in)
1963
90.9 mm (3.6 in)
1964
80.0 mm (3.1 in)
1965
106.4 mm (4.2 in)
1966
170.2 mm (6.7 in)
1967
81.0 mm (3.2 in)
1968
113.0 mm (4.4 in)
1969
92.7 mm (3.6 in)
1970
55.4 mm (2.2 in)
1971
135.6 mm (5.3 in)
1972
116.6 mm (4.6 in)
1973
62.2 mm (2.4 in)
1974
53.8 mm (2.1 in)
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
The wettest five days of the year at Cape Spencer, 1936 to 1974. The record is 421.9 mm (16.6 in) in 1948, marked on the chart; the median year is 203.7 mm (8.0 in).
Wettest five days (Rx5day) at Cape Spencer by year
Year
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
1936
162.7 mm (6.4 in)
1937
208.9 mm (8.2 in)
1938
199.8 mm (7.9 in)
1939
190.0 mm (7.5 in)
1940
246.1 mm (9.7 in)
1941
137.6 mm (5.4 in)
1942
164.2 mm (6.5 in)
1943
273.9 mm (10.8 in)
1944
203.7 mm (8.0 in)
1945
413.0 mm (16.3 in)
1946
310.1 mm (12.2 in)
1947
224.5 mm (8.8 in)
1948
421.9 mm (16.6 in)
1949
320.6 mm (12.6 in)
1950
217.4 mm (8.6 in)
1951
189.4 mm (7.5 in)
1952
227.6 mm (9.0 in)
1953
228.4 mm (9.0 in)
1954
165.4 mm (6.5 in)
1955
163.4 mm (6.4 in)
1956
384.8 mm (15.1 in)
1957
217.1 mm (8.5 in)
1958
195.6 mm (7.7 in)
1959
190.5 mm (7.5 in)
1960
273.8 mm (10.8 in)
1961
255.6 mm (10.1 in)
1962
165.3 mm (6.5 in)
1963
180.3 mm (7.1 in)
1964
187.2 mm (7.4 in)
1965
188.7 mm (7.4 in)
1966
393.8 mm (15.5 in)
1967
208.1 mm (8.2 in)
1968
231.3 mm (9.1 in)
1969
161.3 mm (6.4 in)
1970
143.3 mm (5.6 in)
1971
204.6 mm (8.1 in)
1972
165.9 mm (6.5 in)
1973
131.8 mm (5.2 in)
1974
182.3 mm (7.2 in)
Longest dry spell (CDD)
The longest dry spell of the year at Cape Spencer, 1936 to 1974. The record is 22 days in 1938, marked on the chart; the median year is 15 days.
Longest dry spell (CDD) at Cape Spencer by year
Year
Longest dry spell (CDD)
1936
7 days
1937
13 days
1938
22 days
1939
15 days
1940
17 days
1941
13 days
1942
13 days
1943
14 days
1944
10 days
1945
8 days
1946
17 days
1947
18 days
1948
15 days
1949
6 days
1950
18 days
1951
13 days
1952
15 days
1953
13 days
1954
16 days
1955
16 days
1956
19 days
1957
22 days
1958
15 days
1959
10 days
1960
16 days
1961
20 days
1962
15 days
1963
13 days
1964
12 days
1965
12 days
1966
14 days
1967
18 days
1968
15 days
1969
18 days
1970
12 days
1971
11 days
1972
15 days
1973
16 days
1974
14 days
Each chart shows one value per year; the dot marks the record year. TXx is the hottest daily maximum, TNn the coldest daily minimum, Rx1day and Rx5day the largest one-day and five-day rain totals, and CDD the longest run of days with less than 1 mm of rain. A year with missing days can understate an extreme.
Frost Dates and Growing Season
27 years with a frost
Across 27 years with a frost, the median last spring frost at Cape Spencer falls on 11 April and the median first autumn frost on 7 November, which leaves a median of 210 days between them.
Fitted over all years, the growing season changes by +9.1 days per decade at this station.
Frost dates and growing season at Cape Spencer
Measure
Median, all years
Earliest period
Recent period (1937 to 1970)
Recent against earliest
Fitted trend
Last spring frost
11 April
n/a
11 April
n/a
-1.1 days per decade
First autumn frost
7 November
n/a
7 November
n/a
+8.0 days per decade
Growing days
210 days
n/a
210 days
n/a
+9.1 days per decade
A frost day is a day with a daily minimum at or below 0 C (32 F). The last spring frost and the first autumn frost are the last and first such days of the cold season, and growing days are the days between them. A negative trend for the last spring frost means it comes earlier.
Rainfall Return Levels
30 years, 1937 to 1972
A day with at least 94.7 mm (3.7 in) of rain is expected about once in 2 years. A day with at least 199.7 mm (7.9 in) of rain is expected about once in 100 years.
Rainfall return levels at Cape Spencer: the daily rain expected about once in a given number of years
Expected about once in
A day with at least
Note
2 years
94.7 mm (3.7 in)
5 years
122.5 mm (4.8 in)
10 years
141.0 mm (5.6 in)
25 years
164.6 mm (6.5 in)
50 years
182.1 mm (7.2 in)
Longer than the 30 years of record
100 years
199.7 mm (7.9 in)
Longer than the 30 years of record
The levels come from a generalised extreme value (GEV) distribution fitted by L-moments to the wettest-day total of each year, 30 years of values from 1937 to 1972.
A return level is an estimate. It is least reliable for the long periods, 50 and 100 years, and for any period longer than the record behind the fit, where the fit has to reach past the largest day actually observed. It is not a forecast.
The largest wettest-day totals in the fit: 186.7 mm (7.4 in) in 1956; 170.2 mm (6.7 in) in 1966; 143.5 mm (5.6 in) in 1948.
Download the Data
Data for Cape Spencer standing records by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Data for Cape Spencer threshold days by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Climatology Network Daily (GHCN-Daily). Records are computed by World Extreme Weather Monitor and are not official NOAA products. (US Government open data (NOAA NCEI)) Data as of 2026-10-14 (14 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.