Flood watch issued for Anchorage as storm systems move in

After weeks of sunny, dry weather, Anchorage is set to experience a series of rain events that have triggered a flood watch for the area.

The watch from the National Weather Service encompasses Anchorage, Eagle River, Indian and Eklutna. It began Friday night and lasts through Sunday.

“We’re expecting the storm systems that are going to come in this weekend are going to come in two rounds, so to speak,” meteorologist Michael Vuotto said.

The first arrived Friday night and continued overnight. That was when Anchorage was expected to get the most rainfall, he said. Saturday will bring a bit of a break before a second round of rain moves in Sunday.

The series of storms is expected to bring “moderate to heavy” rain across the Anchorage Bowl and the front range of the Chugach Mountains, according to the flood watch. This could lead to elevated water levels in Anchorage streams and creeks, including Chester, Campbell and Ship Creeks. Drivers should also watch for water “ponding” on roads.

The area is expected to get up to 2 inches of rain throughout the entire rain event, according to the National Weather Service. That might not sound like a lot, but it’s more than Anchorage has seen in weeks while Southcentral Alaska has been experiencing a drought. Vuotto said that’s one of the reasons they put out the alert.

“This is kind of a change from what we’ve been dealing with most of the summer so far,” he said.

Vuotto said that if motorists come across standing or pooling water on the road and aren’t sure of its depth, they should turn around and not drive through it. Storm drains should be cleared of leaves and other debris so that water can drain properly.

The Alaska-Pacific River Forecast Center will also be keeping an eye on water levels throughout the weekend, Vuotto said.