Montana Creek reaches flood stage in Juneau after overnight rain

Montana Creek reached flood stage Sunday morning in Juneau. Water spilled over the low water crossing on Montana Creek Road.

The National Weather Service in Juneau issued a flood advisory at 7:38 am. The agency extended it at 10:24 am to run until 1:45 pm, then canceled it at 1:30 pm, saying heavy rain had ended and floodwaters had receded.

The advisory also covered Back Loop Road at the Montana Creek bridge, warning of water over roadways and overflowing drainage areas. "Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads," it said. The cancellation told people to heed any remaining road closures.

Between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain fell overnight, with another quarter to half inch possible. By 10 am, the total had reached 1.25 to 1.75 inches. The gauge at the Back Loop Bridge read 14.5 feet, flood stage, at 7 am. At that level, the creek runs bankfull at the gauge and starts covering undeveloped fields along Mendenhall Loop Road.

At 10 am, the advisory put the gauge at 14.9 feet and forecast a crest near 15 feet around 11 am. Hourly readings peaked lower, at 14.8 feet at 11 am, then fell below 14.5 feet by 1 pm.

The creek rose to the same spot a month earlier. An advisory issued late Aug. 31 put the gauge at 14.7 feet and forecast a crest near 15 feet. When the weather service canceled it the next morning, it said the creek had crested around 14.7 feet.

Moderate flood stage at the gauge is 17 feet, where the weather service estimates Mendenhall Loop Road begins to flood. Juneau records a 17.3-foot high-water mark from Oct. 20, 1998.