For the first time ever - since we began the issuance of watches, warnings and advisories across the U.S. - Alaska is now under a heat advisory valid from this past Sunday until later Tuesday evening for above-average temperatures.
This genuinely is the very first time the state has seen active heat advisories anywhere across the peninsula.
Temperatures will be sitting anywhere on average between 85 to 87 degrees. For us Central Floridians, that’s a beautiful day! But when you jump as far high in latitude as Alaska, it’s definitely a marked increase in what you’d typically be accustomed to.
Other areas of Alaska are currently dealing with Red Flag warnings. These have been a frequent occurrence here in our area because of the dry conditions and extensive heat provided by a stubborn ridge that just won’t get out of the way.
So, while it is an enormous deal and has gone down in history as a climate milestone for Alaska, it isn’t solely because the state is now experiencing temperatures unlike ever before.
The advisory in itself is a record for National Weather Service offices of Alaska. But the temperatures warranting the advisory are far from the hottest temperatures they’ve ever observed.
The standing record is currently 100 degrees, which came in over 100 years ago during 1915.
Fairbanks once saw a temperature of 96 degrees dating back to 1969. Then, in 2019, Anchorage reached a whopping 90 degrees, which set a new record for that area.
The true reason the heat advisory has been issued was simply a change in NWS criteria. For the longest time, offices in Alaska would alert their folks using Special Weather Statements for incoming above-average temperatures.
The remainder of the U.S., Hawaii included, has always utilized heat advisories to alert their people of potentially harmful surface temperatures. Thankfully here in Central Florida, we’ve yet to see a heat advisory issued, especially closing in on the first day of summer. That could change in the near-distant future.
NWS operators in the Alaska area advise they approved the switch to using heat advisories as a better way to accurately represent the threat at hand.
Alaska has seen a trend toward warmer temperatures over the years, proven through statistical data and collected observations. Since heat in general is becoming more of a routine part of the forecast for the region, the office feels its finally time to implement the advisory.
For the messaging that locals receive, this is most definitely an optimal move on their part. For example, how many of you would think HEAT if a special weather statement popped up on your smart phone, computer or other electronic device? Typically around here, the National Weather Office for your area issues a SWS (Special Weather Statement) for high winds or small hail not large enough to warrant a severe thunderstorm warning.
As a continental unit, all National Weather Service teams using the same type of messaging to alert cities, towns, neighborhoods of potential inclement weather is a win across the board.
Forecasting is half the battle in meteorology; alerting those in harms way is an even greater battle we strive to win day-by-day.