Kaktovik, AK Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Kaktovik, North Slope County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Kaktovik?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged blizzard conditions on 31 days in the Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast forecast zone and North Slope County — the most common reported hazard around Kaktovik, mostly in January and March. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (1 days) and flooding (1 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blizzards | 31 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 1 | Nov 2023 | — |
| Flooding | 1 | Dec 2022 | — |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996–2026 (the latest year is partial). A "day" is a date with at least one report in the Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast forecast zone and North Slope County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Kaktovik?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is PAPD (Pedro Dome, AK), about 366 miles south-southwest. Radar beams climb as they travel, so the height of the lowest scan over town decides how low in a storm the radar can see.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Kaktovik | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAPD Pedro Dome, AK | 366 mi south-southwest | 84,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| PAHG Kenai, AK | 687 mi south-southwest | 267,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| PAEC Nome, AK | 696 mi west-southwest | 274,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
Beam height is the center of the 0.5° scan above the radar, with standard refraction. Mountains near a radar can block it further.
Tornado & hail history near Kaktovik
NOAA has no tornado on record within 25 miles of Kaktovik since 1950.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center — tornadoes 1950–2025, hail 1955–2025. Distances are to each tornado's track; ratings before February 2007 use the original Fujita scale.
On TALON you get Kaktovik's live radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks with arrival times and NWS warnings free; close-up radar and rotation detection are part of TALON Pro.
Kaktovik radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Kaktovik, AK?
PAPD (Pedro Dome, AK), about 366 miles south-southwest. PAHG (Kenai, AK) is 687 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Kaktovik?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Kaktovik the lowest scan from PAPD is about 84,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Kaktovik free?
Yes — the US radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and NWS warnings are free in any browser. Close-up radar, rotation detection and longer forecasts are part of TALON Pro.
Should I rely on radar for my safety?
No app replaces official warnings. When the National Weather Service issues a warning for Kaktovik, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.