Alaska Issues First-Ever Heat Advisory Amid Unprecedented Temperatures
For the first time, Alaska's National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Fairbanks, with temperatures expected to exceed 85°F, highlighting unusual weather patterns.
Overview
- The National Weather Service issued Alaska's first-ever heat advisory for Fairbanks, with temperatures predicted to exceed 85°F.
- Most Alaskan buildings lack air conditioning, designed to retain heat, exacerbating the impact of rising temperatures.
- Fairbanks has faced over a hundred hours of smoke visibility for three consecutive years, indicating worsening air quality.
- The advisory reflects a shift in public perception regarding weather severity, moving from special statements to advisories.
- Despite Fairbanks reaching 90°F twice in 2024, the advisory marks a significant moment in Alaska's climate history, emphasizing unusual June heat.
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Analysis
Emphasizes Alaska's unprecedented heat advisory, highlighting the lack of air conditioning in buildings.
Alaska will experience its first ever heat advisory issued by the National Weather Service.
Most Alaska buildings are not equipped with air conditioning.
Fairbanks has experienced over a hundred hours of visibility-reducing smoke for three consecutive years, with only two summers in the 21st century having no smoke-related visibility issues.
Using the heat advisory label could help people better understand the weather's severity and potential danger.
The term swap doesn’t have anything to do with climate change.
Articles (3)
Center (2)
"…The first advisory is for Sunday in Fairbanks, where temperatures are expected to top 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Celsius)."
ABC News·18d·"…The National Weather Service issues Alaska's first ever heat advisory, marking a significant change in how the public is informed about unusual weather conditions."
Associated Press·18d·FAQ
Until recently, Alaska's forecast offices did not have the authority to issue heat advisories; they relied on special weather statements to alert the public about unusual heat. Procedures changed on June 2, 2025, allowing Alaska to use official heat advisories, aligning them with practices in the Lower 48 states.
In Alaska, heat advisory criteria vary by region. Some areas on the North Slope require temperatures to reach only 75°F to trigger an advisory, while Fairbanks's threshold is 85°F.
Most buildings in Fairbanks are designed to retain heat for cold winters and lack air conditioning, so temperatures even in the mid-to-upper 80s can pose serious heat-related risks indoors. Only about 2% of Alaskan homes have air conditioning.
The advisory highlights a shift in public perception of weather severity and reflects unusual June heat. Consistent high temperatures and repeated smoke visibility in recent years indicate worsening air quality and increased risk of wildfires, pointing to ongoing climate changes in the region.
The current temperature of about 85°F is 15–20 degrees above average for mid-June but is still well below the all-time record of 96°F set in 1969. However, temperatures in the upper 80s are extremely unusual for this time of year.
History
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