ANCHORAGE, Ala., June 20 (UPI) -- An unusual heat wave is warming Anchorage and other parts of Alaska as temperatures reach the 90s, weather officials said.
The National Weather Service said almost every part of the state is experiencing higher than average temperatures.
Discovery News said south-central Alaska experienced four all-time highs Monday, with Seward at 88 degrees and the small town of Talkeetna at 96 degrees.
Warm, dry winds are causing the heat wave, which started last week with a high of 68 Thursday in Anchorage, the Los Angeles Times said.
Residents, who aren't prepared for the heat, are looking for ways to stay cool as fans fly off the shelves.
Sprinklers, garden hoses and mosquito repellent are also hot commodities, the Times said.
Alaskans just experienced record cold temperatures throughout spring, as well as flooding evacuations, Discovery News said.
"Eventually, the sun is going to win out, and once it did, boy, did things change in a hurry," said Michael Lawson, a National Weather Service meteorologist said.
