Hydrologic Outlook

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...Locations Impacted... Central Interior-Nenana-Two Rivers-Middle Yukon Valley-Upper Koyukuk Valley-Upper Chena River Valley-Fairbanks Metro Area-Goldstream Valley and Nenana Hills-Lower Koyukuk Valley-Dalton Highway Summits-Chatanika River Valley-White Mountains and High Terrain South of the Yukon River-Eielson AFB and Salcha

Areas of 1 to 2.5 inches of rainfall are expected over the next 48 hours due to an atmospheric river. Average return intervals of 2 to 5 years is possible throughout much of the central and western interior through the weekend. Isolated areas could potentially see heavy rainfall more in line with 10 to even 25 year return intervals, resulting in significant rises in the smaller headwater streams that feed the Koyukuk and Middle Yukon Rivers. While there are no immediate concerns for the main stem rivers in the area, they will also see significant rises in water levels through the week as a result of the expected heavy rainfall with sandbars potentially becoming covered with water.

Across the Chena River basin, moderate to heavy rainfall of up to 1.5 inches is expected. This will also result in rises along the Chena and Little Chena rivers. At this time flooding is not expected, but should the focus for heaviest rainfall shift further east with time, this could change.

Rainfall rates are expected to decrease by Sunday afternoon across most of the area.