Aug. 8 — A flood warning was in effect in Anchorage through Thursday afternoon after heavy rains swelled creeks and caused water to pool on roads, triggering road closures and flooded basements for some.
The National Weather Service issued the advisory late Wednesday night, valid through 4 p.m. Thursday, due to possible flooding “caused by excessive rainfall” that is causing many local waterways to rise. The advisory comes after a river of atmospheric precipitation hitting the mid-South led to multiple watches, warnings and advisories and triggered flooding in Seward on Wednesday.
Authorities warned Thursday morning that a band of heavy rain would hit Anchorage and urged residents to use caution when driving or walking near rivers, streams or other bodies of water. Glenn Highway users reported standing water in ruts and occasional cases of hydroplaning.
Northbound traffic on Spenard Road at the intersection of 19th Avenue and Hillcrest Drive was closed due to flooding, according to an alert from the Anchorage Police Department at 9:30 a.m. Flood-related lane closures also occurred at 36th Avenue and MacInnes Street.
Phones at Dry Out Systems in Anchorage rang off the hook all morning Wednesday, an employee said between calls. While many people reported flooded basements, he added, it was also important to check crawl spaces for water.
Sections of the municipal trail system have experienced significant flooding, according to an update posted mid-morning Thursday by the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Department, along with a photo of the Chester Creek Trail at C Street completely underwater. Officials urged trail users to exercise caution and asked anyone who sees flooding or erosion to report it by sending photos to parks@muni.org.
This latest wave of concentrated rain comes after an already wet summer.
Since July 12, the weather service has measured more than 5.6 inches of rain at the agency’s Sand Lake offices as of Wednesday, according to meteorologist Michael Kurz. That’s more than half of the 10.74 inches that have fallen so far this year.
The year-to-date average is 6.8 inches, Kurz said.
That storm is expected to calm down and give way to a “break” of scattered showers by Friday, before a new storm moves in this weekend and brings more rain through Sunday, he said. “We’re kind of stuck in the middle of a current of air.”
Anchorage set a daily rainfall record Wednesday, with 1.33 inches measured at the National Weather Service’s Sand Lake station, the agency said. The previous record, 0.7 inches, was set in 1980.
The advisory in effect for Anchorage Thursday morning warns of minor flooding in low-lying and poorly drained areas and high flows along area creeks and streams, pooling of water on sidewalks and debris clogging storm drains and ditches.
Minor flooding in Chester Creek and Campbell Creek near Dimond Boulevard is “ongoing or expected to begin soon,” the advisory said. In Eagle River and Chugiak, localized urban flooding and ponding is also likely, it added.
A flood warning was also in effect through Saturday afternoon for the Susitna Valley, where 2 to 4 inches of rain fell in parts of the Lake Creek, Skwentna and Yentna river basins over the past 48 hours. The rivers are expected to rise through Friday before cresting, with an additional 1 to 2 feet possible.
A satellite map shows a long stretch of moisture settling over the North Pacific, “basically pumping moisture over us” and moving slowly eastward, Kurz said.
This is a developing story. Check back regularly for updates.
