Weather

According to Alaska-based climatologists, these heavy mid-to-late winter storms might become more common and signify a climatic shift for the region.

“It’s something that you always are aware of that might happen,” Paulsen said. “We didn’t expect … it was pretty surprising to get ten straight days of rain. But we have nice tents, we have a nice bug shelter that keeps us out of the rain when we need to.”

Kotzebue’s July was one for the record books, with the highest monthly precipitation on record. The previous rainfall record for the midsummer month was set more than two decades ago.

The governor’s disaster declaration opens up resources to Buckland, a village in Northwest Alaska.

An ice jam caused by warming spring temperatures near the village of Buckland has left most of the town underwater and cut off access to the airport road.

This year was the second-warmest on record in the Arctic, directly affecting sea ice, erosion and marine ecosystems.

The previous record was a low of minus 24 on April 28, 1964.

Lee says currently 16 families are using the school as a shelter. The school currently has power from a back-up generator. He also says the store in town is open with supplies.

Historically, Arctic communities have had thick layers of sea ice to help buffer those storms, but that protection is disappearing.

While the storms are nothing new for this time of year, they are likely to disrupt sea ice in the region, which is forming at a much slower rate due to an abnormally warm year.