Alaska News

High-wind warning canceled but potential for minor flooding remains

12:30 p.m. update

The high-wind warning for higher elevations has been canceled. However, a flood advisory remains in effect until 4:45 p.m.

Earlier story:

Gusts to 85 mph are possible on the Hillside and Turnagain Arm Wednesday morning, and moderate to heavy rain overnight in the Anchorage area has led to a flood advisory for area streams, according to the National Weather Service.

A high-wind warning is in effect until 11 a.m. for the higher elevations and Turnagain Arm, with winds of 60-70 mph and gusts to 85 mph, diminishing to 40-50 mph and gusts to 60 mph by late morning.

The weather service said an 84 mph gust was recorded at McHugh Creek at 5:50 a.m. Wednesday, as well as gusts above than 60 mph on the Upper Hillside and above Potter Marsh.

A flood advisory also has been issued for Anchorage, with "modest rises" in area creeks and streams and the potential for pooling in low areas, the weather service said. "Low lying areas of town such as Chester Creek may experience some minor flooding," the weather service said in a statement Wednesday morning.

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As of Wednesday morning, the weather service had recorded three quarters of an inch of rain at the international airport over the previous 12 hours, said meteorologist Dave Stricklan.

Moderate to heavy rain overnight was accompanied by rising temperatures that melted snow in the Chugach Mountains and led to additional runoff, the weather service said.

Chester Creek was above minor flood stage on Wednesday morning, said Kurt Mayer, a meteorologist at the weather service's river forecast center, but it was not expected to rise much more. Mayer said the Chester Creek Trail was likely flooded at its intersections with C Street and Arctic Boulevard.

Rain is expected to taper off by afternoon.

Current Alaska weather forecasts and advisories

Anchorage Daily News / adn.com

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