NWS advisories name four Kuskokwim Delta villages for second day

Coastal advisories held into a second day

Kipnuk, Kwigillingok, Kongiganak and Quinhagak spent Monday under coastal advisories for the second straight day, with water levels forecast to run 1 to 2 feet above the normal highest tide line.

The National Weather Service in Anchorage flagged coastal erosion both days. Large breaking waves of 4 to 6 feet were likely along the coast Sunday into Monday, and 3 to 5 feet Monday, the agency said, with higher waves offshore. The coastal flood threat itself stayed low, at 10 to 20 percent.

Wind and rain compound the risk

A separate wind advisory ran until 1 p.m. Monday, with southwest winds of 25 to 40 mph and gusts to 55 mph. "Strong winds combined with heavy rain could make travel and outdoor activities difficult," the agency said. A second round of gusts, 30 to 40 mph, is expected Monday evening into Tuesday.

Prolonged rainfall is forecast from Sunday afternoon through at least Tuesday. That stretches the hazard past a single tide cycle.

The weather service advised residents to secure outdoor objects and to move items away from beaches.

Kipnuk is still rebuilding

Kipnuk is still being rebuilt from the remnants of Typhoon Halong. More than 12,000 feet of new boardwalk has been laid, and crews are lifting storm-damaged homes back into place, according to previous Alaska News reporting.

The weather service says the high surf carries potential for coastal erosion, and that localized beach erosion may occur in the advisory area.