Cold in Alaska, January 29 to 31, 1999

While northern Alaska was under a relatively cold airmass already, a large pool of colder air moved from the Russian high Arctic Ocean to the Chukchi Sea coast west of Barrow on Jan. 29th and proceeded southeast to the interior of Alaska through the 31st, where it remained until being slowly warmed February 10-12th. Many locations over Zones 4 and 8 (Western Interior) and western zones 5 and 7 (Central Interior) remained in the 50s below during the period and reached the 60s below one or more times. The lowest recorded temperatures and dates are:Zone 4: Huslia: -67 31st , Coldfoot DOT: -58 29th Zone 5: Chandalar Lake -74 29th, Stevens Village: -54 29th and 30th, Eagle: -55 1/30Zone 7: Delta Dairyaire: -60 30th, Zone 8: Galena: -64 31st, Grayling: -58 31st, Unofficial: Kaiyuh (20E Kaltag) -69 31stNo deaths or known injuries, however, much disruption of commercial air service to villages as piston engine craft could not fly at temperatures continuously below -40. Reports of some frozen sewer and water mains in a few villages. Overall financial impact of event is unknown. Event continued in February.