Coastal Flood — Ern Norton Sound Nulato Hills, Alaska

2019-08-02 to 2019-08-03 · Ern Norton Sound Nulato Hills, Alaska

Event narrative

Storm surge ranged from 6 to 10 feet above the normal high tide line in eastern Norton Sound. The high surge combined with southwest winds 30 to 45 mph resulted in high surf and significant wave runup. In Shaktoolik, water surrounded the village, much of the normally dry tundra was inundated, but erosion of the evacuation route out of town was the biggest impact. In Unalakleet, water was up to the AC store, the Fish processing plant, around the village and the airport was surrounded by water. In Stebbins, minor flooding was observed and a few homes were surrounded by water. Lastly, in St. Michael minor flooding of the old shipyard and erosion were the biggest impacts.

Wider weather episode

A strong low pressure center tracked north through the Bering Sea across St. Lawrence Island, the Bering Strait, and into the Chukchi Sea between Aug 2-4th, 2019. This was the strongest in a series of weather systems associated with an atmospheric river which developed over the Bering Sea from late July and into August. This early fall storm resulted in coastal flooding, high surf, erosion, and riverine flooding due to heavy rainfall. Impacts included minor flooding of homes, seasonal subsistence camps damaged, road washouts, and coastal lagoons flooded.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 852822. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.