Warnings for Flood and High Winds Issued as Two Storms Expected to Strike Alaska

Two storms are expected to hit Alaska this week, prompting US weather authorities to issue flood warnings and high winds warnings for several areas.

The Alaskan storms are likely to cause inland flooding and coastal flooding brought by potential heavy rain and strong winds. The stormy weather is also possible to continue until the weekend, putting communities near the coastline at risk.

Alaska Weather Report

(Photo : Photo by Davis Turner/Getty Images)

Alaska will experience renewed stormy weather this week as the two storms with colder air are on the way to the state. The weather disturbances will bring strong winds and torrential rain into Southeast Alaska, which already saw half an inch to over two and a half inches of rain as of Tuesday, October 18 Chief Meteorologist Melissa Frey, as cited by Alaska's News Source.

Flood warnings are underway near Skagway, with flood watches and flood advisories imposed for the northern inner channels. The Alaskan weather forecast highlights the risk of highwater or flash flooding in these areas. The flood alerts mean that floodwaters are either ongoing or likely to occur in certain areas, especially those situated in low-lying areas and near the coastline, as well as inland bodies of water.

Wind was forecasted to increase on Tuesday evening in Southeast Alaska. Maximum wind gusts between 40 to 60 miles per hour are likely to hit Skagway, Sitka, and Yakutat where the high wind warnings are in effect until Wednesday morning, October 19.

Also Read: More Than 100 Million US Residents Under Cold Weather Warnings as a Result of Low Temperatures

Alaska Storm Forecast

South-central Alaska will continue to experience mild weather conditions on Wednesday. However, one of the storms moving across the Bering Sea will deliver a mixture of winter-like snow and rain to most parts of Western Alaska, before bringing rainfall on Thursday, October 20.

Behind the storm, a cooler air will fill the state, resulting in dramatic temperature drop of more than 10 degrees in Anchorage, Alaska, this coming weekend. This means that warm temperatures will struggle to make it above freezing temperatures. Overnight low temperatures are anticipated to dip into the mid-20s during the weekend and early next week.

The National Weather Service (NWS) - Weather Prediction Center (WPC) on Tuesday also issued its Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion about the emerging storm threat in Alaska wherein it could hit the Gulf of Alaska or coastal communities this weekend.

Throughout the period, the US weather agency said the active storm patterns from the Bering Sea could also move into Western Alaska.

Alaska's Historic Storm

The storm weather forecast comes a month after Alaska experienced its most powerful storm in a decade. September's historic storm comes from the remnants of Typhoon Merbok which brought powerful winds, storm surges, and coastal flooding in Alaska.

The massive storm also prompted Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy to declare a state of disaster as the weather phenomenon threatened large areas of the state, including its western coastline. The disaster also led to widespread property damage and evacuations, as residents were ordered to move to higher ground, according to The New York Times.