Steady rain returns to forecast for Southcentral Alaska this weekend

After a brief showing of sunshine this week, much of Southcentral Alaska is in for a very wet weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

As of Friday afternoon, the weather service was predicting “prolonged, steady rainfall” for the Kenai Peninsula, Anchorage and Mat-Su that would begin Friday night and last through at least Sunday morning.

Communities along Cook Inlet and into the Susitna Valley were expected to get the most precipitation, including Nikiski, Kenai, Soldotna, Talkeetna and Skwentna.

Forecasters said rainfall totals between at least an inch and more than 2 inches were possible, with heavier rainfall rates possible in some areas.

“Southeasterly winds developing closer to the surface could lower rainfall amounts, but plenty of moisture will be available for maintaining precipitation for inland locations at higher elevations, including Sterling, Anchorage, Palmer, and Wasilla,” the weather service said in a special weather statement.

The heavy rain could cause flooding on small streams, the weather service said.

[Photos: Reveling in this week’s welcome dose of Alaska summer sunshine]