Alaska, 1997

Lightning Strike in Alaska, January 8, 1997

January 8, 1997 · NWS AFC · 1 event in 1 county or zone

An unusual cold air outbreak and incoming front produced thunderstorms at Kodiak, which knocked out power and caused electrical surges which damaged some equipment for short periods of time.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS AFC wrote it up.

An unusual cold air outbreak and incoming front produced thunderstorms at Kodiak, which knocked out power and caused electrical surges which damaged some equipment for short periods of time.

The radar

The Kenai radar (PAHG), 124 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:56 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Kodiak Island(C) E. Ak Penin

When
January 8, 12:00 PM AST to 6:00 PM AST
Where
Kodiak Island(C) E. Ak Penin County, Kodiak
Coordinates
61.167, -149.251 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Alaska in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Alaska, January 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5585137.