Alaska issues its first-ever heat advisory as Fairbanks braces for 85°F weekend
While the state has experienced high temperatures before, this marks the first time such conditions are formally labeled under a 'heat advisory' rather than a 'special weather statement.'
Meteorologists say the shift is designed to better communicate the seriousness of elevated temperatures to the public.
'This is an important statement,' said Alekya Srinivasan, a Fairbanks-based meteorologist. 'We want to ensure people understand the potential dangers of heat, especially in a state not used to it.'
Fairbanks has topped 90°F in past summers — including twice in 2024 — but experts emphasize this administrative change is about clarity, not climate records.
'This isn't unprecedented heat or driven by climate change,' said Rich Thoman, a climate specialist at the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy. 'It's about providing clearer, more impactful communication.'
Unlike most of the U.S., many homes and buildings in Alaska lack air conditioning and are designed to retain heat.
That makes brief warm spells more uncomfortable — and in some cases dangerous — especially when wildfire smoke prevents residents from opening windows to cool their homes.
'Buildings can heat up quickly if smoke is in the air,' said Thoman, adding that Fairbanks has experienced more than 100 hours of smoke-related visibility reduction for three consecutive years — a record.
While heat advisories can now be issued in Fairbanks and Juneau, Anchorage's weather office is still developing a plan. Officials say the city hasn't yet met the threshold for issuing such an advisory this summer. — Agencies
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
5 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Downgraded Hurricane Erin lashes Caribbean with heavy rains, expected to intensify
Hurricane Erin was downgraded to a Category 3 storm Sunday, but forecasters warn it is expected to intensify and grow in size in coming days, as it lashes Caribbean islands with heavy rains that could cause flash floods and landslides. The first hurricane of what is expected to be a particularly intense Atlantic season, Erin briefly strengthened into a 'catastrophic' Category 5 storm before its wind speeds weakened. Forecasters do not currently expect it to make landfall along its expected course, but tropical storm warnings are in effect for the southeast Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands. Hurricane Erin was located about 275 miles (445 kilometers) north of San Juan, Puerto Rico, at 5:00 pm Atlantic Standard Time (2100 GMT), with maximum sustained winds of 125 miles (205 kilometers) per hour, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC). 'The core of Erin is expected to pass to the east and northeast of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas tonight and Monday,' the NHC said in their latest report. The North Carolina Outer Banks, Bermuda and the central Bahamas were advised to monitor Erin's progress. Hurricane Erin had reached the highest level on the Saffir-Simpson scale just over 24 hours after becoming a Category 1 storm, a rapid intensification that scientists say has become more common due to global warming. It could drench isolated areas with as much as eight inches (20 centimeters) of rain, the NHC said. 'Some increase in size and strength is forecast during the next 48 hours. Erin is likely to remain a dangerous major hurricane through the middle of this week,' the agency said. It also warned of 'locally considerable flash and urban flooding, along with landslides or mudslides.' Climate hazard In Luquillo, a coastal town of Puerto Rico, surfers rode the swells while beachgoers milled about the shore on an overcast Saturday before the storm approached, AFP images show. Areas of the US territory -- home to more than three million people -- saw flooded roads and homes. Swells generated by Erin will spread to the Bahamas, Bermuda and the US East Coast early next week, creating 'life-threatening surf and rip currents,' the NHC said. While meteorologists have expressed confidence that Erin will remain well off the United States coast, they said the storm could still cause dangerous waves and erosion in places such as North Carolina. The Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June until late November, is expected to be more intense than normal, US meteorologists predict. Several powerful storms wreaked havoc in the region last year, including Hurricane Helene, which killed more than 200 people in the southeastern United States. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration -- which operates the NHC -- has been subject to budget cuts and layoffs as part of US President Donald Trump's plans to greatly reduce the size of the federal bureaucracy, leading to fears of lapses in storm forecasting. Human-driven climate change -- namely, rising sea temperatures caused by the burning of fossil fuels -- has increased both the possibility of the development of more intense storms and their more rapid intensification, scientists say.
Al Arabiya
31-07-2025
- Al Arabiya
Heavy rain pummels the East Coast and sparks localized flash flooding
Strong rain storms lashed the East Coast Thursday delaying flights throughout the region and stranding motorists in deep water from the Philadelphia area to New York City. In New York, the Clearview Expressway, a major highway in the borough of Queens, was closed in both directions and the commuter rail system into suburban Long Island suspended service on one of its busiest lines during rush hour. Traffic cameras and social media posts showed stranded vehicles as the severe weather prompted officials to plead with people to say home. In Pennsylvania, National Weather Service warnings for up to 3 inches of rain in an hour and the downpour produced flooding in the streets of Reading. One video online showed water pouring down a city street rising halfway up a parked car and rendering a busy commercial intersection nearly impassable as waters rose into a car's wheel wells. In Maryland, multiple water rescues were reported in communities north of Baltimore. Flash flood warnings were up for parts of New York City, New Jersey, and Philadelphia while states of emergency were declared in New Jersey and New York City where state workers were sent home early. Airports in New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia all reported significant flight delays and cancellations. Tornado warnings in New Jersey came and went with no reports of twisters though more than 6,000 electricity customers were without power. Forecasters said the strongest storms were expected later Thursday afternoon and night. The National Weather Service said heavy to excessive rainfall and potentially severe thunderstorms were expected along the Washington-Philadelphia-New York City corridor. Some areas in the southern part of the region could see rainfall rates of 2 inches (5 centimeters) per hour, the service said. Stay home this evening unless its absolutely necessary for you to go out Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman told suburban Long Island residents. The weather service issued flash flood warnings early Thursday afternoon for parts of Berks, Lancaster, and York counties in Pennsylvania and parts of Baltimore and Hartford counties in northern Maryland, meaning heavy rain was falling. The service said flooding was possible in small creeks and streams and urban areas along with highways, streets, underpasses, and poor-drainage and low-lying areas. Flood watches and severe thunderstorm watches were in effect in the region until late Thursday and Friday with 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) of rain possible in some areas. The weather service posted a severe thunderstorm warning for an area of eastern Pennsylvania between Allentown and Reading saying 60 mph (97 kph) wind gusts and penny-size hail were possible. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro posted on social media that state emergency management officials were preparing potential response and recovery efforts. New York City officials warned that heavy rain could flood some streets, parts of the subway, and basements. They urged people living in basements to move to higher floors and issued an advisory asking New Yorkers to avoid travel from Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon.
Saudi Gazette
30-07-2025
- Saudi Gazette
Magnitude 8.8 earthquake in eastern Russia triggers widespread tsunami warnings
TOKYO — The 8.8-magnitude earthquake that occurred in northeast Russia on Wednesday morning caused tsunami warnings to be issued in the US states of Alaska and Hawaii and in Japan. Damage was reported and evacuations were issued in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, the quake's epicenter. A tsunami of up to 4 meters was reported in parts of the region, the regional minister for emergency situation Sergei Lebedev said. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centers warned that waves of 1 to 3 meters above the tidal level may occur in some coastal areas of Hawaii, Chile, Japan and the Solomon Islands. In some coastal areas of Russia and Ecuador, waves of more than 3 meters may occur. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning for the Pacific coast of Japan and stated that waves of up to 3 meters could reach the coast of northern Japan. "Urgent action must be taken to ensure the safety of life and property," the warning said. It was stated that the first waves were expected around 7 pm local time on Alaska-based National Tsunami Warning Centre issued a tsunami warning for parts of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, while parts of the West Coast, including California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii, were also under early July, five strong earthquakes occurred near Kamchatka, the strongest had a 7.4-magnitude. The largest earthquake was 20 kilometers deep and occurred 144 kilometers east of the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, which has a population of 180,000.A 9.0 magnitude earthquake in Kamchatka on 4 November 1952 caused 9.1 metre waves in Hawaii, causing damage but no casualties. — Euronews
