Flood — Upper Koyukuk Valley, Alaska

2019-08-03 to 2019-08-04 · near Bettles Field, Upper Koyukuk Valley, Alaska

Event narrative

The Alaska DOT estimated that a three day storm peaked with around 4 inches of rain in 24 hours ending on Aug 3rd in the vicinity of the Jim River between Dalton Highway Mileposts 142 to 145. Water overtopped the Highway at two locations between Jim River #3 and Douglas Cr. Water was estimated to be around 2 feet deep across the highway. The road was impassable to some vehicles. The flowing water also caused damage to the Highway.

Wider weather episode

A series of weather fronts associated with an an atmospheric river moved into the Bering Sea and across Interior Alaska during the first week of August. Heavy rainfall resulted in flooding of the Dalton Highway near the Jim River from Milepost 142 to 145.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (66.8385, -150.6089)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 854520. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.