Is the abundance of insects unusual? Updates from around the state with picking and weather impacts.

"We usually pick salmon berries in early July."

A 24-hour, 245 mile survey of fireweed plants from Anchorage to Seldovia revealed an almost complete absence of flowering.

The Hatcher Pass Road in Alaska has opened for the summer season, but deep snow remains at higher elevations, with crews spending the last week digging out the road over the pass before opening it.

Twenty-three of the 25 fires so far this year were ignited by human activity. While this year’s heavy snowpack and cold spring pushed back the start to fire season in many parts of the state, climate change is generally causing an earlier snowmelt, said climatologist Rick Thoman.

The break up on the Yukon River has been delayed this year because of ice conditions. Randy Audet has a home in the Rock Creek subdivision and went to check on it Monday, along with his mom's car. He's working out of town right now at a camp and also has another place to stay outside of Dawson City. Audet's whole property was underwater. "I've never actually seen this happen in 12 years since I've been living here."