Alaska issues state’s first-ever heat advisory
Alaska has issued its first-ever heat advisory as temperatures in Fairbanks are expected to reach 85 degrees Fahrenheit, marking a notable policy change by the National Weather Service (NWS). While these temperatures are above the typical June averages for the state, they are not unprecedented. The NWS has begun allowing Alaska to issue heat advisories, which were previously communicated through special weather statements.
Meteorologist Alekya Srinivasan emphasized the importance of clearly informing the public about potential health risks associated with the high temperatures, especially as manny Alaskan buildings lack air conditioning and are designed to retain heat. The criteria for issuing a heat advisory vary by location, with Fairbanks needing to forecast temperatures of at least 85 degrees. Additionally, a flood watch has been issued for the North Slope region due to rapid snowmelt perhaps causing ice jams in rivers, which coudl pose risks to local infrastructure.
Alaska issues state’s first-ever heat advisory
Alaska issued its first-ever heat warning over the weekend as temperatures were forecast to reach 85 degrees Fahrenheit in Fairbanks.
The warning is not necessarily reflective of unprecedented high temperatures, although 85 is far above the average June temperatures for the state. It’s more reflective of a change in policy from the National Weather Service. The National Weather Service recently began allowing Alaska to issue heat advisories there, whereas notices of similarly warm weather conditions previously were issued via “special weather statements.”
The National Weather Service said the change was made to influence how the public receives the information.
“This is an important statement, and the public needs to know that there will be increasing temperatures, and they could be dangerous because Alaska is not used to high temperatures like these,” Alekya Srinivasan, a Fairbanks-based meteorologist, said.
“We want to make sure that we have the correct wording and the correct communication when we’re telling people that it will be really hot this weekend,” she said.
While 85 degrees would not raise alarm in much of the continental U.S., weather experts note that much of the state does not have air conditioning, which can make these conditions dangerous.
“And just the opposite, most buildings in Alaska are designed to retain heat for most of the year,” Rich Thoman, a climate specialist at the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy, said.
Beginning this summer, the Juneau and Fairbanks weather service offices are allowed to issue heat advisories. The office in the state’s largest city, Anchorage, is not yet allowed to. Temperatures in Anchorage have not reached the heat advisory threshold.
To call a heat advisory in Alaska, temperatures must be forecast to reach maximums of at least 75 to 85 degrees, depending on location. In Fairbanks, the high must be forecast to be 85 degrees to prompt an alert.
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Fairbanks reached 90 degrees twice last year. The Weather Service in Fairbanks additionally issued a flood watch from Friday to Tuesday for the North Slope region of the city, warning that the rapid melting of snow could create ice jams in rivers.
“These jams can cause sudden and severe rises in water levels, posing a significant threat to roads or other infrastructure near the affected waterways,” the Weather Service said.
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