Kaktovik Winter Storm
Unless otherwise noted, information from NCDC Storm Events Database
An intense low-pressure system plagued the 300-resident village of
Kaktovik from 1/8 until the early morning of 1/12 with winds chills in the -60Fs,
blowing snow, 1020ft snowdrifts, and very low visibilities.1 According to the
NWS, winds blew steadily at 35 to 50mph during these four days.2 It was a
struggle to get emergency crews to the area because of the blizzard conditions,
but on 1/12 planes carrying supplies and transporting workers arrived. The most
pressing issues were restoring power and fixing broken pipes. All together, the
storm was a $6.7M disaster. With inflation, the disaster total would be $8.2M in
2014.3
Date(s)
Jan. 8Jan. 12
1
Details
On 1/7, a low-pressure system moved north over the Chukotsk Peninsula. As the
storm moved over the Russian Arctic Ocean, it rapidly deepened and its
associated cold front strengthened and swept east across the North Slope on
1/8, bringing strong west winds and snow. The low center, though 450mi north of
Barrow the afternoon of 1/8, continued to deepen and approached 980mb. It
drifted southeast, which allowed the strong winds over the eastern arctic coast to
continue until the morning of 1/12. A prolonged blizzard occurred at the village of
Kaktovik.
 Temperatures were as warm as 39F the night of 1/7 into the morning of
1/8, before cold front swept in.4
 From 1/8 to 1/9, temperatures dropped about 50 degrees in 24 hours.
(NCDC)
 Temperatures dipped as low as -27F during the morning of 1/13.5
 Visibility as low as 0.25mi during the afternoon on 1/8.
 Winds were sustained at around 45mph the night of 1/9, and gusts were
as high as 67mph.
 On 1/11, the temperature was -26F with 18mph winds.
 At 5pm on 1/9, the NSB notified the State Emergency Coordination
Center and the Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management
that the city was in danger of citywide freeze damage to pipelines
(pipelines at the time were two years old and cost $28M). The NSB
requested repair technicians and repair equipment immediately.6
 High winds knocked over power lines the morning of 1/8, causing two-
Northwest Digest. Juneau Empire (AK) - January 13, 2005. Section: State & Regional.
2
Help is on the way to Kaktovik - 'CAT TRAIN': Low visibility stymies flights; relief to come over land./ Anchorage Daily News (AK) - January 12, 2005. Author: JOEL GAY Anchorage Daily News;
Staff. Edition: Final. Section: Main. Page: A1.
3
CPI Inflation Calculator. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Dep. Of Labor. http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm
4
Observational data from PABA.
5
Observational data from CWKM.
6
NWS Alaska Region internal compilation.
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
thirds of the city to be without the power. By the next morning, the rest of
the village was without power. Some buildings had generators, but many
generators ran out of fuel on 1/10.
On 1/11, while the blizzard was in progress, a National Guard helicopter
transported two electrical linemen to the village, who restored power to
much of the village. They also brought with them 600lbs of supplies and
tools, including portable lights.7
On 1/12, three cargo planes were able to land in Kaktovik. Two planes
carried supplies, such as diapers, infant formula, ready-to-eat meals,
propane, and generators. The third plane transported a crew of 10
workers, such as electricians, plumbers (they worked to fix leaking or
broken pipes), water system engineers and fuel specialists.8 Cargo planes
tried to land the previous day, but the visibility was so low that they had to
cancel the mission.9
No fatalities during this storm, but one person broke several ribs falling
from the edge of a snowdrift, and one city worker sustained a knee injury
while doing repair work. One person was also treated for carbon
monoxide poisoning.10
The total disaster cost was $6.7M, including: $85K for individual
assistance for 63 applicants, $5.6M for public assistance for 6 applicants,
$455K for hazardous mitigation.11
7
Help is on the way to Kaktovik - 'CAT TRAIN': Low visibility stymies flights; relief to come over land. Anchorage Daily News (AK) - January 12, 2005. Author:. JOEL GAY Anchorage Daily News;
Staff. Edition: Final. Section: Main. Page: A1
8
Northwest Digest. Juneau Empire (AK) - January 13, 2005. Section: State & Regional.
9
Threats loom as Kaktovik thaws - Power restoration brings flooding, fires RELIEF SUPPLIES REACH STRICKEN VILLAGE. Anchorage Daily News (AK). January 13, 2005. Author: JOEL GAY
Anchorage Daily News ; Staff. Edition:. Final. Section: Main. Page: A1
10
Help is on the way to Kaktovik - 'CAT TRAIN': Low visibility stymies flights; relief to come over land. Anchorage Daily News (AK) - January 12, 2005. Author: JOEL GAY Anchorage Daily
News ; Staff. Edition: Final. Section: Main. Page: A1
11
NWS Alaska Region internal compilation.