Alaska Hits Record Temperatures Amid Heatwave

Washington: A new record high temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) has been set in the US state of Alaska, part of which lies inside the Arctic Circle. The new temperature in Alaska’s Anchorage city on Thursday topped the previous record set at Anchorage International Airport of 85 degrees Fahrenheit on June 14, 1969, the US Weather Service tweeted. The state’s most populous city, which boasts a population of roughly 300,000 people, Anchorage also had its hottest June ever, with an average temperature for the month of 60.5 degrees (5.3 degrees above normal). The dramatic warming Alaska has experienced in recent years is linked partly to a decline in sea ice and Arctic Ocean warming. This has wreaked havoc on local communities, wildlife and the state’s economy. (IANS)

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