In Fairbanks Alaska, under the bright summer sky that stays lit for nearly 22 hours a day meteorologist Ciara Santiago stood by the thermometer as it climbed steadily into the 80s. For the first time in the state’s history, Santiago had to issue an official heat advisory a warning unheard of in this part of the world, where cold weather is usually the main concern.
This may sound like a minor event elsewhere, but for Alaska where permafrost keeps the ground frozen, homes are built to trap warmth, and air conditioning is rare the heat warning is a sign of a fast-changing climate. Scientists say Alaska is warming at more than twice the global average rate.
Until this month, weather offices in Fairbanks, only 120 miles south of the Arctic Circle, didn’t even have the option to issue a heat alert. But the new advisory system now allows them to officially warn the public when extreme heat becomes dangerous. “It gives us a better way to tell people when to take heat seriously,” Santiago explained.
While this heatwave is not completely unexpected in meteorological terms, it is unusual. A weather pattern called an “upper-level ridge” a dome of high pressure has settled over central Alaska, trapping warm air in the region. On Friday, Fairbanks recorded a high of 82°F, and by Sunday, officials warned temperatures could reach as high as 89°F, or even 90°F in some spots like the Yukon Flats.
“To people in the Lower 48, this might not seem hot, but here it can feel like 110°F,” Santiago said.
With nearly round-the-clock sunlight so close to the summer solstice, the heat builds during the day and doesn’t quickly disappear at night. In Alaska, most houses are built to lock in heat during long, freezing winters, not to keep the warmth out. This makes homes feel like ovens during an extended heatwave. A similar problem during Europe’s deadly 2003 heatwave led to 35,000 deaths, showing how dangerous unprepared infrastructure can be when temperatures spike.
That’s why Alaska’s new heat advisory is not just another weather report it’s a serious warning for a state where people don’t have shaded porches, air conditioning, or even a habit of watching for signs of heat exhaustion.
Sudden shifts in temperature can also catch people’s bodies off guard. “I’m from Texas, so I’m used to heat. I grab a jacket when it’s in the 50s,” Santiago said with a smile. “But here in Alaska, I’m fine wearing dresses at that temperature.” What she explains next is more serious: when you live in a cold place, your body isn’t adapted for heat. Normally, it takes one or two weeks for the human body to adjust to high temperatures by changing how it sweats and moves blood. Without time to adjust, sudden heat increases the risk of heatstroke and other dangers.
Making matters harder Santiago’s office like many National Weather Service stations has been hit by staff cuts that started during the Trump administration. More than 560 weather service employees nationwide lost their jobs, cutting staff by a third in many offices. In Fairbanks, the shortage means they can’t keep the office running overnight. “We’re doing the best we can with what we have,” Santiago said.
The early heat comes after a dry winter with low snowfall and an early melt, sparking fears that fire season could be severe. Federal firefighting teams essential in Alaska’s vast wilderness are also short on staff and resources. While California is hiring more firefighters to prepare for the season, Alaska’s fire response relies mostly on federal crews, raising worries about how well the state will cope if wildfires break out.