It’s hot in Alaska. Hot enough for the first-ever heat advisory. Photo: Unsplash
Alaska is not generally known as a warm place. Sure, it gets warm-ish in the summers, but never hot. Until now, that is. The 49th state just issued the first heat advisory in its history.
The National Weather Service Fairbanks AK first released the advisory on June 12, but updated it on June 16. “Hot temperatures of 85 to 88°F,” the advisory reads. “Central and Eastern Interior including Tanana, Fairbanks, Fort Yukon, and Eagle are all affected, with the advisory in place until 7 p.m. on the evening of June 17.
“Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances as vehicle interiors can reach extreme temperatures in as little as 10 minutes,” the NWS warns in the advisory. “Take extra precautions when working in the sun.”
Depending on where you live, 88°F might not be considered incredibly hot. But in Alaska, where extreme cold is normal, 88 degrees can seem like the Sahara Desert.
“Let me preemptively cut anyone off for saying upper 80F is not real heat,” wrote Brian Brettschneider, climatologist in Alaska. “As Alaskans, we do not pass judgement on Lower 48 places that shut down with two inches of snow. Every place is built for its climate. Alaskan houses are built to retain heat and do not have air conditioning.”
