The strongest heat in the history of Alaska: glaciers are melting, forests are burning, birds are massively dying

Subpolar Alaska experienced its hottest day on record this week, with temperatures exceeding 32ºC in Anchorage. The surroundings of the largest city, home to 40% of the state's population, are filled with smoke from forest fires, and rivers are overflowing with meltwater.

Photo: video frame CBS News

The previous record did not reach 30ºC, the average temperature for this time of year is usually 18ºC, and the average peak is just below 24ºC, writes Air force.

It all started in the spring. An unusually warm May, especially in the polar part of the northernmost American state, has alerted meteorologists and environmentalists. It was followed by a record hot June, and now the July peak.

Photo: video frame CBS News

Scientists have linked the mass death of birds - a local species of puffins nesting on the shores of the Bering Sea - to climate change. In a study published at the end of May, they concluded that the birds died due to lack of food due to the migration of plankton and fish due to rising water temperatures.

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The troubles don't end there. June is thunderstorm season in Alaska, and lightning has caused several large fires, including at Swan Lake near Anchorage. As a result, smoke has been shrouding the city and surrounding areas since the beginning of June with varying intensity.

Photo: video frame YouTube / NationalGuard

The US Weather Service issues warnings and advises people to drive with their lights on, to limit their physical activity, and to offer the elderly and the sick to stay at home.

However, the population does not listen and rejoices in the heat. Old-timer Sean King, quoted by the AP, says he doesn’t remember such a beautiful summer. And recently moved to the north are surprised:

“Like most people in Anchorage, I don’t have air conditioning in my home and it’s almost unbearable. It’s hard even for me, although I’m originally from Las Vegas,” says Manny Acuna, who moved to Alaska from the Nevada desert 9 years ago.

Glaciers responded to the heat with aggressive melting, and meteorologists warn that local rivers are ready to break the banks.

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Photo: video frame CBS News

Scientists attribute extreme weather conditions to general climate change.

“The likelihood of such anomalies becomes much higher as the planet warms,” Associated Press quoted meteorologist Rick Toman of the University of Alaska Fairbanks as saying.

Photo: video frame CBS News

“Ocean surface temperatures off all coasts of Alaska are above normal. Throughout the Gulf of Alaska, in the Bering Sea and in the ice-free part of the Chukchi Sea, the water is very warm, record warm. But the ice cover off the northern and northwestern coasts, on the contrary, is record low,” the scientist said.

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