Flood — Nern P.w. Snd, Alaska

2023-08-26 to 2023-08-27 · near Valdez, Nern P.w. Snd, Alaska

Event narrative

Heavy rain, on top of saturated soils, caused fast rises on the Lowe River in Valdez. The Richardson Highway was impacted in Valdez, with flooding encroaching on the highway and closing it at MP 4. Transportation into/out of Valdez was affected; this is the only road in/out of the community.

Wider weather episode

An active weather pattern in August 2023 kept conditions in the Copper River Basin near saturation. An atmospheric river moved into Prince William Sound August 26 and heavy rains elevated river levels, impacting access to Solomon Gulch Dam and limiting transportation along Richardson Highway.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (61.1038, -146.2302)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1129660. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.