High surf advisory holds for Golovin to Stebbins through 11 a.m. Saturday

Water levels along the Eastern Norton Sound coast peaked early Friday at just over 4 feet above the normal high tide line near Golovin. The National Weather Service in Fairbanks expects a second rise Saturday morning.

A high surf advisory runs through 11 a.m. AKDT Saturday. It covers the Southern Seward Peninsula Coast and the Eastern Norton Sound coast from Golovin to Stebbins. Forecasters expect water levels of 2 to 4 feet above normal, highest from Golovin to Elim.

Localized beach erosion may occur. The weather service urges residents to take precautions to protect property.

Golovin sits on a spit between Golovnin Lagoon and Golovnin Bay and floods repeatedly. During ex-typhoon Merbok in 2022, flooding levels exceeded the previous record set in 1913. A 2012 state report said the community "has experienced severe flooding and erosion that have resulted in damages to city infrastructure."

Golovin has completed a plan calling for relocating infrastructure to higher ground.