Extremely Warm Temperatures

Observation by John Henry:

During the dates from Monday, June 8th, 2019, to Tuesday, June 9th, 2019, I experienced extremely high temperature ranges well past a high of 80F where a high is considered mid to high 70s. It was also during the week where a number of dead fish started to occur along the riverine segment.

Comments from LEO Editors:

LEO has received numerous observations about the unusually high temperatures this summer and the effects it has had on the environment. Many parts of the state have experienced record-breaking temperatures. According to climate.gov, Alaska had an atmospheric high-pressure dome over it during the beginning of July, which prevented any cloud formations and allowed for continuous sunshine, which in turn, promoted the unusual temperatures. The warm air temperatures and persistent sunshine also caused many bodies of water to spike in temperature, which has created a very stressful environment for many aquatic organisms. In the past few weeks, LEO has received observations of fish mortalities near Alakanuk, Kotlik, Shaktoolik, and Golovin, which are likely related to unusually warm water. Elizabeth Lindley