Komakuk Beach, Yukon

Komakuk Beach was the site of a DEW Line station, located on the Arctic coast of Yukon, Canada. The station was closed in 1993 pursuant to the general policy of dismantling such stations that was adopted following the collapse of the Soviet Union, which effectively ended the Cold War and obviated the need to maintain these installations.

Komakuk Beach had been the scene of considerable environmental damage, which took seven years to clean up; following this, the site was incorporated into Ivvavik National Park in 2000.

The immediate area surrounding the former station is completely uninhabited, as the northernmost settlement within Yukon is at Old Crow, approximately 225 km (140 mi) miles to the south.

Situated in a narrow coastal plain at the base of the Richardson Mountains and having a tundra climate, Komakuk Beach is located at 69°35' North latitude and 140°11' West longitude.

Climate

Climate data for Komakuk Beach Airport
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 8.3
(46.9)
18.2
(64.8)
10.1
(50.2)
13.3
(55.9)
17.2
(63)
30.2
(86.4)
30.0
(86)
29.6
(85.3)
24.1
(75.4)
13.3
(55.9)
10.0
(50)
8.9
(48)
30.2
(86.4)
Average high °C (°F) −19.7
(−3.5)
−20.9
(−5.6)
−21.2
(−6.2)
−13.6
(7.5)
−2.6
(27.3)
7.5
(45.5)
12.2
(54)
10.3
(50.5)
3.8
(38.8)
−6.4
(20.5)
−16.1
(3)
−19.6
(−3.3)
−7.2
(19)
Daily mean °C (°F) −24
(−11)
−25.3
(−13.5)
−25.1
(−13.2)
−17.8
(0)
−5.6
(21.9)
4.0
(39.2)
7.8
(46)
6.3
(43.3)
0.7
(33.3)
−9.7
(14.5)
−19.9
(−3.8)
−23.7
(−10.7)
−11.0
(12.2)
Average low °C (°F) −28.7
(−19.7)
−29.8
(−21.6)
−29.2
(−20.6)
−21.9
(−7.4)
−8.5
(16.7)
0.5
(32.9)
3.4
(38.1)
2.2
(36)
−2.4
(27.7)
−13.0
(8.6)
−23.8
(−10.8)
−27.9
(−18.2)
−14.9
(5.2)
Record low °C (°F) −51.8
(−61.2)
−50.0
(−58)
−47.8
(−54)
−38.5
(−37.3)
−26.7
(−16.1)
−9.4
(15.1)
−5.6
(21.9)
−7.8
(18)
−17.8
(0)
−31.8
(−25.2)
−39.5
(−39.1)
−44.4
(−47.9)
−51.8
(−61.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 5.7
(0.224)
4.7
(0.185)
3.6
(0.142)
4.3
(0.169)
5.2
(0.205)
17.7
(0.697)
27.3
(1.075)
34.8
(1.37)
22.9
(0.902)
20.3
(0.799)
9.0
(0.354)
5.8
(0.228)
77.7
(3.059)
Source: 1971-2000 Environment Canada[1]

References

Coordinates: 69°35′39.5″N 140°10′37.4″W / 69.594306°N 140.177056°W