As of Wednesday night, the fire was still only 14 percent contained
“For residents in southern Alaska that have been dealing with dense smoke and poor air quality from the Swan Lake Fire, more bad news is on the way as a rare, long-lasting heat wave overspreads the state.
The Swan Lake Fire, which was ignited by lightning on June 5, has already charred over 84,000 acres and continues to burn south of Anchorage on the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska.
As of Wednesday night, the fire was still only 14 percent contained, according to Inciweb.
The National Weather Service office in Anchorage issued the first ever Dense Smoke Advisory for the region on Saturday afternoon, and the city’s international airport reported smoke for 74 straight hours ending 3 p.m. local time Sunday.
“The city is likely to face more smoke into this weekend,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said.www.accuweather.com/...
Newscast : Arctic Temperatures
“Although the temperature in Anchorage will probably not reach the all-time record of 86 degrees through this weekend, new record highs will likely be set on several days through early next week,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Ryan Adamson said.
High temperatures in Fairbanks will trend upward from the lower 70s on Independence Day to the middle 80s this weekend and the upper 80s to near 90 early next week.
Anchorage, Alaska, set a new all-time record high on Thursday, topping out at 89F. This shattered the old record of 85F set in 1969.
In general, high temperatures across the state will be 10-20 degrees above normal for early July.
The above normal temperatures and extremely dry weather have led the Anchorage Fire Department to cancel all fireworks shows in Anchorage, Eagle River and surrounding areas, the Associated Press (AP) reports. Independence Day celebration fireworks were originally planned in Eagle River for Wednesday night and in Anchorage on Thursday.www.accuweather.com/...
Anchorage, Alaska, Shatters All-Time Heat Record, And It Could Get Hotter Still
Alaska: temperatures rival Miami amid 'unprecedented' heatwave
Anchorage’s weather station recorded 90F on Thursday, breaking the previous record high of 85F
.theguardian.com/...
“In addition to fueling a high fire danger, the heat dome will create poor air quality as a result of air stagnation.
Air stagnation results when little, if any, wind is present for a period of at least a few days.
West-to-northwesterly winds pushed the smoke from the Swan Lake Fire south of Anchorage late on Sunday and kept it south of the city through early Wednesday morning.
“However, fluctuating winds can spread smoke back into Anchorage at times into this weekend, which would lead to another period of poor air quality,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson warned.
Meanwhile, smoke from the Shovel Creek Fire can occasionally create smoky conditions around Fairbanks. The Shovel Creek Fire has consumed 10,000 acres so far and was only 8 percent contained as of Thursday morning.
Residents, especially those with respiratory issues, the elderly and young children, should be prepared to take steps to protect against smoke inhalation, including staying indoors and keeping windows and doors closed.
With vegetation continuing to dry out through the weekend, campers and hikers should be sure to thoroughly extinguish fires and cigarette butts to minimize the risk of sparking a wildfire.
.www.accuweather.com/...
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