In Alaska, an unprecedented “extreme heat” alert
For the first time, the U.S. Weather Service issued a heatwave warning in Alaska, where temperatures reached 30°C. This is a high threshold for a state where homes are designed to retain heat and residents are unaccustomed to it.
It's historic. For the first time, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a heat warning in Alaska, a state known for its glaciers, dog sledding, and northern lights, as The Washington Post describes it .
In Fairbanks, the state's second-largest city, temperatures reached 30°C over the weekend, the highest temperature forecast for the region. Residents are urged to stay hydrated, stay in cool places whenever possible, and postpone outdoor activities.
The heat alert threshold varies from state to state: in Texas, for example, it's set at 40.5°C. "But there, people are used to the heat. In Alaska, summer comes quickly, and sometimes the human body isn't ready after months of extreme cold," explains the American newspaper, which points out that, according to scientific studies , it takes a few weeks for the body to acclimatize to the heat.
Furthermore, “Alaska is particularly ill-equipped to deal with the dangers of high temperatures.” Rarely equipped with air conditioners or fans, the houses are veritable greenhouses that retain heat.
This will have to change, as Alaska is warming faster than any other U.S. state and faster than the global average. In fact, NWS meteorologists are already considering raising the alert threshold in Fairbanks, the Washington Post adds.
Courrier International
