Heat wave across Interior

LEO NETWORK ADVISORY: The National Weather Service in Fairbanks reports: Heat wave continues across Interior Alaska. Temperatures have reached into the 80s to near 90 across interior Alaska today, making this the hottest day so far this summer. These very hot conditions are expected to continue through Friday. The heat wave is being caused by blocking high pressure system in the upper atmosphere that will remain parked over interior Alaska through Friday. This type of blocking high tends to remain for 7 to 10 days which is what this high is forecast to do. Some high temperatures so far today around the interior are: McGrath 90 (new record high) Fairbanks 88 Tanana 88 (new record high) Minchumina 88 Ft wainwright 88 Nenana 87 (new record high) Eagle 86 Delta Junction 84 (new record high) Healy 84 Bettles 82 Ft Yukon 82 Heat injury wouldn’t seem to be significant threat to us in Alaska. But because we are not used to heat Alaskans are at risk for heat injury. Heat stroke is the most serious heat injury and heat stroke can be fatal!! Basically the body’s heat control mechanism becomes overwhelmed and body temperature rises. When body temperatures reaches 105 – 106 damage to the brain, heart, kidneys and muscles occurs. At this stage medical intervention is often not successful and the victim dies. Fortunately the single most important way to prevent heat stroke is drinking water. When I was in the military deployed to very hot climates people were forced to drink up to a pint of water every half hour. That got really old but it was better than baking your brain! Animals are also very much at risk. They should be kept in the shade and water should always be available. Extreme heat can have catastrophic impacts on the environment. Mike Bradley

Photo shows one example of what has happened with a very cold winter followed by a heat wave.