Coastal Flood — Yukon Delta, Alaska

2019-08-02 to 2019-08-03 · Yukon Delta, Alaska

Event narrative

Storm surge ranged from 4 to 8 feet above the normal high tide line in southern Norton Sound and the Yukon River Delta. The high surge combined with southwest winds 30 to 40 mph resulted in high surf and significant wave runup. In Kotlik, Flooding reached some homes and structures and water got into the floor insulation in homes in low lying areas. There was also damage to some boardwalks and some residents lost fishing gear and other personal items. The warnings helped people to prepare and move property, such as snow machines, four wheelers, and fish nets, to higher ground or indoors.

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 854512. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.