Despite the fact that it was still snowing in Alaska just last month, the artic state is now enjoying a record-breaking heat wave with temperatures topping 90 degrees.
On Tuesday, the official afternoon high in Anchorage was 81 degrees, breaking the city's record of 80 set for the date in 1926, reports ABC. Ironically, a month ago Anchorage residents shivered through an unseasonably cold spring and a surprise May snowstorm.
Other smaller communities throughout a wide portion of the state are seeing even higher temperatures, like Talkeetna, which hit an all-time high of 96 degrees on Monday. One unofficial reading taken at a lodge near Talkeetna even measured 98 degrees, which would tie the highest undisputed temperature ever recorded in Alaska.
It's been unusually hot in the 49th state for a while now. Talkeetna had six days over 70 degrees, then hit a high of 68 last Thursday, followed by five more days of 70 degrees and up, reports ABC.
However, while some Alaskans are hitting the beach, basking in the sun and sunbathing, the abnormally hot weather has caused both wildfires and flooding, reports Reuters. Plus, moose have been spotted near lawn sprinklers around Anchorage and at least one has invaded someone's kiddie pool. Pet reptiles, normally confined to heated indoor spaces because of Alaska's cold outdoors, are also making rare public appearances.
"It's almost unbearable to me," said Lorraine Roehl, who has lived in Anchorage for two years after moving there from the community of Sand Point in Alaska's Aleutian Islands. "I don't like being hot. I'm used to cool ocean breeze."
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