Flood — Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

2024-08-16 to 2024-08-19 · near Eek, Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

Event narrative

Nearly-persistent southerly winds led to storm surge and backed up flow, exacerbated by heavy rain, along the Kuskokwim River between August 15 and 18. Residents reported flooding and rapid bank erosion during high tides on August 16 and 17 at Akiak, Napakiak, Kasigluk, and Tuntutuliak. At Napakiak, a village elder reported the bank in front of the school was eroding rapidly and was only about 6 ft from the structure. Water inundated most low spots in the village, including the low spot in the road to the dump. Water levels were reported to be higher than during breakup flooding in May. A resident in Kasigluk reported water encroached on low lying residences, with similar water levels to this year's breakup and only a few inches lower than during Merbok in September 2022. The highest tide levels of the event occurred on August 18 as southerly winds gusted 50-55 mph into the Kuskokwim Delta. In Tuntutuliak, a resident reported that water entered at least two houses. In Bethel, the south boat harbor and East Avenue were closed due to flooding. A National Weather Service employee at the Weather Service Office in Bethel reported waves of 1.5 ft on the Kuskokwim River. In Napakiak, the storm produced localized wind damage to roofing and some smoke houses and subsistence camps were damaged.

Wider weather episode

Two Bering Sea low pressure systems tracked into Western Alaska from August 15 through 18th bringing a period of nearly-persistent southerly winds which led to storm surge and coastal flooding along the Kuskokwim Delta coast and backed up flow along the lower Kuskokwim River. Abundant moisture drawn from the tropical West Pacific by both lows squeezed out moderate to heavy rain in Southwest Alaska, which exacerbated flooding issues along the Kuskokwim River. Flooding was most severe on August 18 as the second low began to enter the Bering Strait, bringing the strongest push of south to southwesterly onshore winds. Coastal communities experienced high water levels which inundated boardwalks, flooded subsistence structures, toppled fuel tanks, damaged ATVs and snowmobiles, and affected the foundations of homes. Along the Kuskokwim River, roads were inundated and closed and at least two houses were flooded in the community of Tuntutuliak.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (60.3118, -162.6944)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1204163. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.