Weather

Mudslide threatens lodge as heavy rain continues across much of Alaska

We had a large mudslide between the lodge and the runway this evening. We are thankful that nobody was hurt. It buried a...

Posted by Sheep Mountain Lodge on Friday, July 7, 2017

Weather forecasters warning that much of Alaska will see waves of heavy rain this weekend advised campers to avoid pitching tents on river sandbars, and used video of a car-carrying mudslide at Sheep Mountain Lodge to make their point.

"A wave of heavy rain over Sheep Mountain along the Glenn Highway created a mudslide that sent debris (near) Sheep Mountain Lodge (on Thursday)," the agency said on its Facebook page.

"More rain will be moving through this region and other parts of Southeast, the Southern Interior and Southcentral Alaska this weekend," the post said.

The agency cautioned that people need to be ready to move to higher ground as rainfall raises rivers and creeks. Alaskans should pay attention to weather and river-level forecasts, and inform others about travel plans.

A video shared Friday by the agency shows a widespread mudslide — with cars buried to the wheel-wells in muck — as observers express astonishment.

The rain is expected to last through Monday.

The agency said:

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"Along the road system and north of Anchorage, you may collect 1 inch of rain or more. From Anchorage southward, expect amounts under 1 inch of rain.

"In the mountains and high terrain, look for considerably more rainfall. This means runoff into streams and rivers will be rising.

"Monday will bring another wave of heavy rain over the central and western Alaska Range."

Sheep Mountain Mud Slide

With a burst of torrential rain in the Matanuska-Sustina valley, a large mud-slide appeared near Sheep Mountain lodge. Sara Hansen captured some of the slide and aftermath, which carried cars, and even boats from a long ways away.

Posted by The Alaska Life on Thursday, July 6, 2017

Alex DeMarban

Alex DeMarban is a longtime Alaska journalist who covers business, the oil and gas industries and general assignments. Reach him at 907-257-4317 or alex@adn.com.

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