High winds have caused mild to moderate flooding across Kuskokwim River and coastal communities.
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No significant damage has been reported as of Tuesday afternoon.
On Tuesday morning in Bethel, the Kuskokwim River crested Joe Lomack Beach and flooded parts of the Alligator Acres neighborhood, including parts of Hangar Lake Road and Fifth and Sixth avenues. Shallow water also covered the roads on both sides of Bethel’s small boat harbor.
Strong southerly winds have kept Kuskokwim River water levels high, said Meteorologist Christian Landry with the National Weather Service.
“We’ve seen in the past that these strong southerly flows can help keep the river from draining out into the Bering [Sea] as effectively,” Landry said. “And once that happens, we can see water backing up in places like Bethel.”
By mid-morning, the Bethel river gauge reached a peak of 9.4 feet. Landry said that since then, the gauge has been dropping. Forecasters believe that will continue, even through the afternoon high tide.
“We are confident that with the downtick in the river gauge that we’re seeing now, we should see those river levels continue to drop this afternoon,” Landry said.
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A flood advisory for the interior Kuskokwim Delta remained in effect until 4 p.m. Tuesday. A flood watch has been issued for the upper Kuskokwim Valley through the afternoon of Thursday, Sept. 17.
Coastal communities, including Kipnuk, have recorded tidal levels of nearly 3 feet above average, though there are no reports of water damage.
Rainfall is expected Tuesday afternoon, which will contribute to a slow receding of water levels, but is not expected to cause any increase in flooding, Landry said.
Landry said that the highest water levels on the coast are going to coincide with the high tides on Tuesday. However, conditions will improve overnight into Wednesday morning, as the low pressure system weakens and moves out of the area, Landry said.
The high tide Tuesday afternoon is expected to be weaker than that morning’s swell in the aforementioned communities, Landry said. It’s forecast to be closer to the normal high tide.
A coastal flood advisory is in effect for the Kuskokwim Delta Coast and Nunivak Island until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 16.
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