A Bering Sea storm brings flooding and high winds to the Y-K Delta

A deepening Bering Sea storm is bringing coastal flooding, erosion and damaging winds to the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, including villages still rebuilding from last October's typhoon.

Forecasters have posted coastal flood advisories for Kwigillingok, Kongiganak, Kipnuk, Toksook Bay and Tununak, where water could run up to 4 feet above the normal high tide line into Wednesday morning. South winds of 35 to 45 mph, gusting to 60, are expected across the delta coast and inland to Bethel, strong enough to knock out power and blow around anything not tied down. Hooper Bay, Chevak and St. Lawrence Island face high winds as well, and at Scammon Bay the water may reach the boat launch.

The Kuskokwim River at Bethel has already topped flood stage, with onshore winds keeping it from draining to the sea and backing water up into low-lying parts of town.

The storm is one more hit on communities that can least absorb it. Kipnuk is still rebuilding from the remnants of Typhoon Halong, which destroyed 153 homes there last October, and storm surge in the flat delta can push more than 20 miles inland. Conditions should ease Wednesday as the storm moves off toward Norton Sound.