Although it was a chilly April in Juneau — the fourth rainiest on record — the folks at the National Weather Service are bracing for climate change, even if they are not using that phrase, which has been phased out by the Trump Administration.
Starting June 2, the National Weather Service offices in Fairbanks and Juneau will begin issuing official heat advisories to warn the public about dangerous hot weather. It’s a change from how they’ve handled heat in the past; previously, they used general alerts called Special Weather Statements.
The new heat advisories are aimed at giving clearer warnings when the weather could become a health risk.
Here’s how it will work:
- In the Fairbanks area, advisories will be issued when the forecast calls for: 85°F or higher in certain interior zones and 75°F or higher in other nearby zones.
- In the Juneau area, advisories will be issued when the forecast calls for: 80°F or higher across all zones.
Unlike some other weather alerts, these heat advisories don’t require high temperatures to last for multiple days. If the forecast hits the temperature threshold for a single day, the advisory will be issued.
The change is meant to make it easier for people to recognize and respond to what may feel like sweltering weather to Alaskans, who are less accustomed to high temperatures.
