High Surf — Western Arctic Coast, Alaska

2008-07-29 to 2008-07-31 · Western Arctic Coast, Alaska

Wider weather episode

A 980 mb low pressure center moved counter-clockwise across the southern Beaufort Sea during 29th through Aug 1st, bringing several periods of west winds 30 to 50 mph across the Arctic Coast of Alaska. This caused a combination of high surf and elevated ocean water levels which destroyed the seawall and threatened 3 structures at the village of Wainwright on the western coast, and damaged the seawall and half of the airstrip at the village of Kaktovik, on the far eastern coast. On Aug 1, a father and his 13-year-old son in an open skiff perished in Camden Bay under strong winds as they were boating from their camp to Kaktovik. Property Damage Estimated at $7 million for Wainwright Seawall; $800,000 for Kaktovik Seawall and Airstrip. Event continued into August.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 119748. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.