An “atmospheric river” is moving through Southeast Alaska this weekend, and Sitka will be just on the edge of areas receiving heaviest rainfall.
Pete Boyd is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Juneau. He says the front started crossing the panhandle around 3 p.m. Friday (8-30-24) and it will begin to stall out on Sunday.
“Along with that is a long stretch of tropical moisture which is going to be the atmospheric river providing us with a moderate to heavy rainfall,” Boyd says. “Sitka is just at the northern edge of heaviest band of rainfall, which is right between Sumner [Strait] and Frederick Sound.”
Boyd says the heaviest rainfall will come in late Friday night. He estimates that Sitka could see a little over three inches from Friday until the system slows on Saturday evening. Some communities may see higher levels of rain, anywhere from three to five inches at sea level with the potential to see seven inches at higher elevations.
While Sitka is on the edge of the heaviest part of the system, Boyd says the storm’s path could always shift a bit prompting more rain. He says it’s always good to be prepared and keep a “go bag” and monitor surroundings.
“Check for changes around your home,” Boyd says. “If you start seeing water coming around hillsides, if you start seeing water change from clear to muddy brown, that could be an indication that movement is happening.”
Due to the internet outage, Sitka’s Landslide Warning Dashboard is currently offline to the public. As of Friday afternoon, the Sitka Sound Science Center’s dashboard was reporting a low landslide risk.
