Kuskokwim Delta villages rebuilding from Halong face another storm

Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, two Kuskokwim Delta villages still rebuilding from last October's Typhoon Halong, face another storm this week, with coastal flooding possible Friday. Water could rise 1 to 2 feet above the highest tide line at those villages and at Kongiganak and Quinhagak, the National Weather Service said, though it rates the flood threat low, at 15 to 25 percent.

The service has posted a high surf advisory for the Kuskokwim Delta coast and Nunivak Island through Friday afternoon, with breaking waves of 3 to 5 feet, along with a wind advisory for the delta and nearby coasts. South to southwest winds of 25 to 35 mph, gusting to 50, could knock out power in spots and make travel difficult. A strong front is driving the system, and even as the winds ease Friday, high seas meeting the afternoon high tide are expected to push water up along the coast. Up to an inch or more of rain could pond water in low-lying areas.

For Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, the threat lands on communities still living with Halong's damage. Alaska News has covered the state Senate's unanimous resolution backing the two villages' relocation decisions and Kipnuk's rebuilding of more than 12,000 feet of boardwalk. A state hazard assessment for Kipnuk found the village floods regularly in spring and fall, with the worst erosion coming in autumn storm surges.