Cold/Wind Chill — Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

2023-01-20 to 2023-01-21 · Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

Event narrative

Bethel, Napakiak and Kwethluk AWOS observations all hit -40 wind chills at various points in time on the morning of 1/21/23 with north winds around 10 to 15 mph.

Wider weather episode

An outbreak of Arctic air over parts of Southwest Alaska brought very cold temperatures and even colder wind chills to parts of the region, namely over the Kuskokwim Delta. Temperatures dipped to as cold as -30 Fahrenheit on the morning of 1/21/23 for more interior areas along the Kuskokwim River near Aniak, and down to near -20 Fahrenheit near the coast. Winds around 10 to 15 mph closer to the coast helped produce the coldest wind chills observed during the morning of 1/21, or around -40 Fahrenheit.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1099774. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.