Alaska has been hit with record-high temperatures that have the arctic state packing heat.

The unusual heat wave will have the northernmost state cooking in temperatures of 87 degrees or higher over the holiday weekend, starting July 4 through Monday, the National Weather Service said.

“Expect record or near-record high temperatures each day,” the agency said Wednesday.

Scorching temperatures could continue into next week and challenge the all-time high temperature at Anchorage International Airport of 85 degrees on June 14, 1969.

“The most likely days for this to occur would be Thursday or Friday,” the National Weather Service forecast said.

Temperatures in the 80s and 90s are rare for some parts of the state, such as south-central Alaska, where air conditioners are hard to come by in most households.

With Post wires