Flood Advisory: Interior Kuskokwim Delta

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Flood Advisory — Interior Kuskokwim Delta Severity: Minor. Certainty: Likely. * WHAT...Flooding caused by onshore flow restricting Kuskokwim River drainage in combination with excessive rainfall continues. * WHERE...Lower Kuskokwim including Napakiak, Napaskiak, Oscarville, Bethel, and Kwethluk. * WHEN...Until 100 PM AKDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas. River or stream flows are elevated. Ponding of water in areas is occurring or is imminent. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 1130 AM AKDT Wednesday, the river gauge at Bethel indicates water levels above flood stage, at or above 8.5 ft. Additionally, reports out of the Lower Kuskokwim, including Napakiak, Napaskiak, Oscarville, Bethel and Kwethluk, confirm flooding in low-lying areas. Water levels may drop with the outgoing tide this (Wednesday) afternoon, but are expected to rise again Thursday morning with another high tide cycle. These high water levels are a result of the Kuskokwim River back-up at its outlet in combination with heavy rain runoff farther upstream. Minor flooding will continue from overflow of poor drainage areas. High tides will decrease later in the week, allowing the backwater of the Kuskokwim River to drain, lowering water levels to below flood stage. - For Kuskokwim River at Bethel: At 11:30am Wednesday the reading was 8.9 feet. Flood Stage is 8.5 feet. Impacts: At 7.0 feet: Action and bankfull stage. At 8.5 feet: Minor flood stage. Water starts to back up along Brown Slough and flood low lying areas. - Http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood