Flood — Taiya Inlet, Alaska

2013-09-11 to 2013-09-12 · near Skagway, Taiya Inlet, Alaska

Event narrative

A strong moist weather front moved over the far northern inner channels of Southeast Alaska and produced high rainfall rates along with amounts. Rain amounts ranged from one to two inches with more at higher elevations. Most of the rain fell over Wednesday night into Thursday morning with almost one inch in two hours. These intense rainfall rates produced significant runoff into the Taiya River and allowed the river to go over moderate flood stage and crested at seventeen point five feet. As the rainfall rates diminished the river levels slowly fell through Thursday.

Wider weather episode

The last in a series of strong subtropical weather fronts moved over the northern areas of the inner channels of Southeast Alaska. This front produced about one inch of rain over the area and with the ground already saturated all of the rainfall went into runoff. This increased runoff produce high river levels across the area with the Taiya River going over moderate flood stage.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (59.6150, -135.3339)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 479683. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.