NWS warns of rare flood risk for Interior Alaska this weekend

A multi-day rain event beginning Saturday evening could push river levels across a wide stretch of Interior Alaska to a threshold seen only once every five to ten years, according to a hydrologic outlook NWS Fairbanks issued Thursday.

The outlook names the White Mountains, Fairbanks, the Chatanika and Chena Basins, the Parks Highway corridor from Fairbanks to Healy, and Denali National Park as the areas most at risk. A long-duration period of moderate rain is anticipated to start Saturday evening and continue through Monday. NWS Fairbanks said the event could affect a large portion of the Interior, with particular focus near Denali National Park.

"Those recreating on or near rivers should expect water level increases late in the weekend and into early next week," NWS Fairbanks said in the outlook.

The office characterized the event as a 1-in-5-year to 1-in-10-year occurrence. NWS Fairbanks said it is continuing to monitor the system and will issue updates as conditions evolve.

For more information, NWS Fairbanks directed the public to weather.gov/afg/?story=5.