Flood Watch

A series of low pressure systems will move through the panhandle this weekend bringing prolonged rain combined with high freezing levels to increase ice melt on glacier river systems. The heavy rainfall and associated runoff will produce significant river rises with the potential of minor flooding.

* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible.

* WHERE...The following area, Northern Inner Channels. This includes the cities of Skagway and Haines.

* WHEN...From late tonight through late Sunday night.

* IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, other low-lying areas and flood-prone locations.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - A series of lows will bring a prolonged period of rain combined with warmer temperatures aloft allowing for any precipitation falling into the region to remain as rain. Current thinking is that the light rain will continue Saturday evening before a second, stronger system moves in for Saturday night into Sunday morning bringing moderate to heavy rain fall. Rain showers will then take over on Sunday that may bring occasional moderate to heavy rainfall as well.

For the Skagway area, 24 hour precip looks to get up to 1 to 2 inches this weekend while the storm total amounts could be 2 to 4 inches. The Haines area is expected to see 0.75 to 1.5 inches in 24 hours while a storm total precipitation of 2 to 3.5 inches is possible.