Southeast is experiencing heavy rains. Forecasters warn that some municipalities could face flooding.
The National Weather Service has issued high wind and flood watches for Southeast Alaska communities from Juneau down to Ketchikan. Meteorologist Grant Smith said several storms will pass over the region early this week, bringing heavy rain and strong wind.
Smith: “What we’re looking at is just a series of strong low pressure systems moving into the Gulf that are going to be swinging in from the south over the panhandle.”
A flood watch is in effect from Monday evening through Wednesday morning for nearly every community in the region, including Juneau, Gustavus (gus-TAY-vuss), Sitka, Wrangell, Petersburg, Ketchikan and Prince of Wales Island. Haines and Skagway are not currently under a flood watch.
By Monday night, rain is expected to pick up across the whole panhandle, bringing two to four inches over the next 48 hours.
The storms will also bring warmer temperatures, which could melt snow that’s accumulated over the last few weeks. Together, rain and snowmelt could cause flooding in low-lying areas. But Smith said lakes, rivers and streams are unlikely to overtop their banks.
Smith: “The rivers are on the lower side, so it might be working in our favor.”
Strong winds are also expected in some places. A high wind watch will be in effect tomorrow (TUES) and Wednesday for Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan and Prince of Wales Island.
Winds with gusts up to 60 miles per hour could bring tree falls, power outages and other wind damage.
And Smith said the combination of intense rain and wind means that isolated landslides are also possible on steep hillsides.
