Yellowknife (Jun 19/06) - Northerners are made of hardy stock. Few bat an eye at -40C or when the mercury climbs the other way, topping 30C.

While B.C. and Alberta saw rain and mid-teen temperatures last week, people from Hay River to Inuvik welcomed early summer highs.

The temperature hit a balmy 31.2 degrees Celsius in Hay River on June 14.

However, people appeared to be taking the unseasonable heat in stride.

Bill Harris, who has lived in the community for 27 years, said he was not surprised by the temperature, noting it can get very hot in the summertime in Hay River.

"We hope it's a lovely, hot summer," Harris said. "We put up with cold winters, so what's wrong with a hot summer?"

While sitting watching a softball game, Sophia Blair also had no complaints about the heat.

"For me, it's too cold in the winter," said the 20-year resident of Hay River. "I'll never complain about the heat. I love it."

Tammy Caudron said she likes nice weather, but not an extreme temperature.

"It's definitely too hot," Caudron said.

On June 14, Hay River was only fractionally warmer than Fort Smith, where the temperature reached 31.1 C.

In Fort Simpson, Leah Keats said she likes the dry heat that's found in the Deh Cho.

"I try not to complain out loud because three months ago it was -30 the other way," said Keats.

To combat the heat Keats said she tries to drink lots of fluids and stay inside.

Cheryl Cli agreed that the weather is a nice change from the long winter.

"I'm liking it a lot," she said.

On June 14 the temperature in Fort Simpson topped at 31C.

Inuvik Elder Elias Aviugana said he hot weather like this normally doesn't come until July.

"This summer has been really hot so far, and it's too early for this warm weather," said Aviugana. "The sun came up early this year, I haven't seen it like this before.

"I didn't get a chance to get on the land this spring, it all happened so fast."

- With files from Paul Bickford, Roxanna Thompson and Dez Loreen