Flooding and damaging winds begin to affect parts of Alaska’s west coast early Saturday as a powerful storm threatens the region over the weekend.
The remnants of Typhoon Merbok could potentially produce the state’s strongest storm in more than a decade, forecasters said.
Weather and local officials are urging residents to prepare for the dangerous storm, which already reported hurricane-force wind gusts and waves of more than 50 feet in the Bering Sea Friday morning.
“As we receive more reports, we cannot stress this enough. PLEASE do not go near flooded areas. Remember, turn around, don’t drown. It only takes 6″ to sweep you off your feet,” the National Weather Service in Fairbanks warned.
Generally, the storm has winds between 40 mph and 60 mph, with gusts to 90 mph, according to the weather service. Water levels could be 12 to 18 feet above normal in some bays, with extended areas 3 to 10 feet above normal.
And that’s why weather officials have advised caution as the storm is set to overwhelm critical infrastructure and wash out roads.
This storm is so big that it will take about 3 hours for the sun to fully set on it. pic.twitter.com/uZCZ3Lxu0j — NWS Alaska Region (@NWSAlaska) September 17, 2022 By late Friday night, water levels in the town of Golovin were rising rapidly, the weather service in Fairbanks said.
“The water continues to rise and will rise overnight. Significant impacts are likely to continue. Stay safe,” the weather service said.
It could take about 10 to 14 hours for the water to recede, causing flooding to remain until Saturday night, the weather service warned.
The storm has prompted multiple severe weather warnings for coastal flooding, strong winds and wind due to threats of strong low-level turbulence in western Alaska, according to the weather service.
Coastal flood watches have also been issued for all coasts along the west coast of Alaska between just north of the Arctic Circle to the coast of the Kuskokwim Delta.
“Strong winds and coastal flooding will continue to increase Saturday afternoon local time. Peak winds are likely overnight into Saturday morning, as is the worst coastal flooding,” CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam said.
Saturday night, water levels along Unalakleet, Shaktoolik and Golovin are expected to reach at least 10 feet above high tide and winds up to 50 mph with gusts up to 90 mph, according to the weather service.
Other areas such as Shishmaref, Wales and Kivalina could see water reach at least 5 feet or higher this weekend.
In Nome, where water could reach up to 11 feet above high tide on Saturday, officials opened a recreation center as an emergency shelter and urged its more than 10,000 residents to prepare.
The Nome, Norton Sound station is reporting water levels of 8.22 feet above the normal high tide line, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
“Port users should secure boats and ships in the harbor and at Belmont Point. Please check your lines and equipment regularly to avoid losses,” the city of Nome said on its Facebook page.
Nome, with more than 9,800 people in the area, is also reporting road closures along River Street, “F” Street and Seppala Drive.
Meanwhile, the state Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said local agencies are aware of the storm and are preparing to respond.
In 2011, Alaska endured a storm system that left a wide swath of destruction in its wake. Like Merbok, the 2011 storm was an extratropical storm. Such a storm or cyclone has cold air at its core – unlike a tropical storm or cyclone which has a warm core. Both can cause significant damage from strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms.
While most areas will see about 1 inch of rain with this storm, some could get as much as 3 inches over the weekend.
Even if Anchorage – more than 500 miles from Nome – gets 1 to 2 inches of rain from this storm, it will push this year into the five wettest years on record. The weather service in Anchorage said winds peaked at 65 to 75 mph Friday night in the Kuskokwim Delta.
