Storm Submerges Kotzebue

Observation by Michelle Kubalack with help from Jackie Schaeffer:

The town flooded Tuesday afternoon around 5 pm and continued to rise throughout the night. As the tide shifted from high to low tide early Wednesday morning the water did recede leaving the town with houses and community buildings flooded around and inside the buildings. At 5 pm on Tuesday we flew a drone over town and documented the storm. It was very windy so it was hard to manage the drone. By 9 pm on Tuesday night the town is fully submerged by water and many unknowns as the community heads into the night. I am scared. High tide is around midnight and we head to bed concerned for our community.

Consult by Rick Thoman:

A very strong storm moved across the Russian far northeast over the weekend and by Monday evening was centered over the western Chukchi Sea about 150 miles west of Point Hope. As the the still powerful storm moved quickly northeast Monday and Tuesday, southwest then northwest winds 25 to 40 mph with higher gusts developed across the south Chukchi Sea and Kotzebue. The long duration of winds piled up ocean water into Kotzebue Sound and as winds turned west to northwest pushed the elevated ocean onto the Kotzebue Sound coast."

LEO Says:

As a record storm flooded the west coast in places like Kotzebue and Shishmaref, Community members flooded social media outlets with comments and updates. Thank you to Michelle for updating us at LEO Network and providing the photos and comments as the community weathered the storm.

Kotzebue Flood Relief Fund:

The Healthy Alaska Natives Foundation has set up the Kotzebue Flood Relief Fund. Your donation will go directly toward flood relief efforts to support the community of Kotzebue. To maximize impact, all processing fees will be waived, ensuring that 100% of your donation goes directly to the community. Thank you Healthy Alaska Native Foundation for facilitating this much-needed service! We are strong together.

Comment from Gemini:

Several previous LEO Network observations help to demonstrate the historical context of storms and flooding in Kotzebue. Repeated observations in 2017 document storm surge and flooding (November 12, 2017; November 14, 2017; November 15, 2017). The November 12, 2017 observation details a sea level rise of over six feet, inundating the boat harbor and flooding the airport road. This suggests a recurring vulnerability to storm surges in the area. The 2019 observation, "Weird weather brings flooding to Kotzebue," highlights an unusual flooding event occurring outside the typical October-November storm season. This underscores changing weather patterns and their potential to exacerbate flooding risks. Observations from 2022 document summer storms (July 26, 2022) and storm impacts in September (September 18, 2022), further suggesting an increase in extreme weather events throughout the year. A November 2023 observation notes above-normal temperatures and varying ice conditions, which may contribute to increased vulnerability to coastal flooding. Finally, a related observation from October 22, 2024 documents the widespread damage caused by the same storm system affecting Kotzebue, impacting other Northwest Alaska villages and emphasizing the regional scale of this event.

This event aligns with observed trends of increasing storm intensity and frequency in the Arctic, attributed to climate change. The loss of sea ice, rising sea levels, and changing weather patterns contribute to increased coastal erosion and flooding in communities like Kotzebue. The Alaska Climate Assessment and Policy Center provides further information on these impacts: https://uaf-accap.org/ News reports from the Anchorage Daily News https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/rural-alaska/2024/10/22/kotzebue-residents-are-sheltering-in-place-after-a-powerful-storm-caused-major-flooding-across-northwest-alaska/ confirm the widespread flooding and the community's response to this event. The storm’s rapid intensification and the challenges faced by residents in documenting the event (e.g., difficulty managing a drone due to high winds) highlight the need for robust community-based monitoring and early warning systems in the face of changing Arctic conditions.