Alaska Storm: Forecasters Raise Concerns For Vulnerable Communities, Warn Residents To Be Vigilant

Forecasters are worried about Alaska residents living in areas battered by the remnants of Typhoon Merbok last month as the state prepares for a new storm this weekend. which could bring wind gusts as high as 65 mph overnight. Officials have urged residents to remain vigilant and be prepared for the storm.

"Heavy rainfall and elevation heavy snow threat for South-central to Southeastern Alaska this weekend to return next midweek in stormy pattern," the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) said in a report Wednesday.

Already "strong South winds" have started in the Alaska Range, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Fairbanks warned. From early Thursday to Friday morning, South winds of up to 40 mph and gusts of up to 65 mph are expected.

In Savoonga, sustained winds have reached over 50 mph and gusts of over 60 mph, the agency noted. In Point Hope and Tin City, wind gusts reached more than 50 mph and 56 mph respectively as of late Wednesday.

During the weekend, forecasters are expecting "heavy rain and elevation snows above 1,000 feet" in southeastern Alaska, the WPC said in its latest Hazards Outlook report. Up to three inches of liquid precipitation are expected in the area.

Aside from the weekend storm that will bring heavy precipitation in mainland Alaska and parts of the Alaska Panhandle (Southeast Alaska), the Bering Sea storm is looking "to impact Western/Southern Alaska Monday," the agency warned.

NWS meteorologist Ryan Metzger said "areas south of the Bering Strait that were impacted by the previous storm" are more susceptible "to smaller events, so that's why we're kind of keeping an eye out for those areas," local outlet Alaska Public Media reported.

Officials are also concerned about possible flooding events in communities already affected by the remnants of Typhoon Merbok, which hit Alaska in mid-September.

"This could be a different storm, as we've heard, so we're getting people ready now," Alaska National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Torrence Saxe said.

Officials have noted that preparations are important in preventing injuries or casualties.

The following Warnings and Advisories have been issued in Alaska:

Wind Advisory effective through Friday morning:

• Denali

Wind Advisory effective through noon Friday:

• Eastern Alaska Range

High Wind Warning effective through Thursday afternoon:

• Chukchi Sea Coast
• Lower Kobuk
• Noatak Valleys
• Northwestern Brooks Range

High Wind Warning effective through Thursday evening:

• Western Arctic Coast

High Wind Warning effective through Friday evening:

• Northern Arctic Coast

High Surf Advisory effective through Friday morning:

• Yukon Delta

Coastal Flood Warning effective through noon Friday:

• Western Arctic Coast
• Northern Arctic Coast

Coastal Flood Warning effective through Friday evening:

• Chukchi Sea Coast
• Baldwin Peninsula
• Selawik Valley

Coastal Flood Advisory effective through Saturday morning:

• Northern Seward Peninsula
• Interior Seward Peninsula
• Golovin

High Surf Advisory effective through Saturday morning:

• Eastern Norton Sound
• Nulato Hills
• St. Lawrence Island
• Bering Strait Coast

Earlier this week, NWS meteorologist Scott Berg said the incoming storm could result in "quite a bit of erosion," raising concerns for Merbok-hit communities.