Local residents debated whether a massive release of spruce pollen, which accumulated on every surface—including car bonnets, picnic tables and the nearby Kachemak Bay—amounted to a “golden sheen” or a “yellow scum”. The fine dust turned the surface of the sea the colour of butter and left a bright, lemony line on shore that marked the extent of high tide and gave off a sickly sweet smell. This huge release of pollen might be yet another symptom of a rapidly changing environment.

There’s little relief from the daytime heat in the forecast for the rest of the holiday weekend.

Unusual cone clouds in the air likely produced precipitation that evaporated before reaching the ground, due to unusually warm conditions.

This is the first breeding record for this species in all of Canada.