Extreme Cold/Wind Chill — Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

2000-03-23 to 2000-03-24 · Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

Event narrative

A Napakiak man, Herman Motgin, age 31, died of hypothyermia Friday after he was found next to his snowmachine on the trail between Bethel and Napakiak, a short distance away. He was discovered in a hypothermic state on the trail about three miles north of Napakiak shortly after 8 am Friday, still breathing. He was taken to the Napakiak clinic, a few minutes later. Health officials arrived about five minutes after that. But, by that time, Alaska State troopers said, Motgin was not breathing and had no pulse. Resuscitation commenced and continued for two hours until a doctor from the Bethel hospital arrived and pronounced Motgin dead. The weather around Bethel, according to an article in the Anchorage Daily News, was "...severe Thursday night, with high winds, blowing snow, and wind chills of...(missing in the article..but estimated at near 50 below zero)".

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5131991. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.