Kotzebue, AK Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Kotzebue, Northwest Arctic County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Kotzebue?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged blizzard conditions on 9 days in the Baldwin Peninsula forecast zone and Northwest Arctic County — the most common reported hazard around Kotzebue, mostly in February and November. Next come high winds (2 days) and coastal flooding (2 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blizzards | 9 | Feb 2026 | — |
| High winds | 2 | Oct 2025 | — |
| Coastal flooding | 2 | Oct 2025 | Oct 8, 2025 · $1.2 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 2 | Dec 2025 | — |
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 Baldwin Peninsula forecast zone and Northwest Arctic County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Kotzebue get?
A normal year brings about 64 inches of snow to Kotzebue, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Kotzebue Ralph Wein Ap weather station 4.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (13.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.9 | 11.0 | 11.9 | 9.4 | 13.1 | 6.4 | 4.7 | 1.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Kotzebue?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is PAEC (Nome, AK), about 183 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 Kotzebue | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAEC Nome, AK | 183 mi south-southwest | 25,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| PABC Bethel, AK | 422 mi south | 108,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| PAPD Pedro Dome, AK | 441 mi east | 117,600 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 Kotzebue
NOAA has no tornado on record within 25 miles of Kotzebue 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 Kotzebue'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.
Kotzebue radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Kotzebue, AK?
PAEC (Nome, AK), about 183 miles south-southwest. PABC (Bethel, AK) is 422 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Kotzebue?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Kotzebue the lowest scan from PAEC is about 25,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Kotzebue 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 Kotzebue, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.