A flood watch was issued Thursday by the National Weather Service for the Kenai Peninsula and a wide swath of Southcentral Alaska warning of potential flooding “caused by excessive rainfall.”
The statement about the watch issued by the service says that Kenai, Soldotna, Homer and Cooper Landing are all expected to see between a half- and a full inch of rain — highest along the immediate coast — from a storm system that will approach the region on Friday.
“Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks,” the statement says. “Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.”
Even greater rainfall is forecast for the eastern Kenai Peninsula, up to one-and-a half inches in Seward, and up to 2 in other areas.
“These amounts are in addition to similar rainfall totals expected across the region for Thursday,” the statement says. The flood watch is effective through Saturday evening on the western Kenai Peninsula and through Sunday morning on the eastern Kenai Peninsula.
The statement says to monitor forecasts and be alert for possible flood warnings.
For updated forecasts and information about ongoing hazardous weather conditions, visit weather.gov/afc.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
