Gusts to 60 mph expected on the Bering Strait coast through Tuesday

South winds gusting up to 60 mph are expected in Shishmaref, Diomede, St. Lawrence Island and along the Bering Strait coast until 4 pm Tuesday, days after a storm flooded roads in Wales and Teller.

The National Weather Service's High Wind Warning, which took effect at 4 pm Monday, calls for sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph in Shishmaref, Gambell, Savoonga, Diomede, Wales, Teller and Brevig Mission. The wind may move loose debris, damage property and cause power outages, and travel could be difficult, forecasters said. They urged people to secure loose objects.

Along the coast, a High Surf Advisory runs until 4 am Wednesday, with breaking waves 2 to 4 feet above the normal high tide line in Shishmaref and along the Bering Strait coast and water levels peaking Tuesday afternoon. Localized beach erosion may occur. Surf advisories also cover the southern Seward Peninsula coast and eastern Norton Sound, where waves at Elim could reach 3 to 5 feet above the high tide line.

Forecasters canceled a coastal flood watch for Shishmaref on Sunday. Earlier advisories had warned that water up to 4 feet could erode the town's road to the landfill. Monday afternoon's update dropped that line.

The winds follow Friday's Bering Sea storm, which flooded roads in Hooper Bay, Teller and Wales and brought a 71 mph gust at Wales.