Summertime, and the Livin’ is … Chilly?

It’s now officially summer, but one might not have recognized it by the cool nighttime temperatures lately on the windward side of the Big Island.

The National Weather Service reported that four record low temperatures have been tied this month at Hilo’s airport, including two since Saturday’s summer solstice.

Called midsummer by some, the day is the longest of the year and when the northern hemisphere is tilted closest to the sun.

But astronomy aside, the thermometer in Hilo dipped to 62 degrees early Tuesday, tying the minimum temperature for June 24 set in 1965.

The 65 degrees recorded early Sunday at the airport matched the June 22 record set in 1955, and tied in 1972 and ’74.

The 64s recorded on both Friday, June 20, and Sunday, June 15, tied the record lows for those dates last set in 2001 and 1970, respectively.

As you reach for that extra blanket, you can thank clear nighttime skies that allow the daytime heat to radiate from the ground unimpeded by clouds.

“When it’s dry and clear, and winds are calm, you’re going to get cool temperatures,” said Jeff Powell, lead forecaster at the National Weather Service’s office in Honolulu.

Tuesday’s 62 degrees was the second coolest temperature recorded during the month of June since the weather service began keeping records in 1947.

The coolest June night at the airport was a 61 set on June 26, 1956.