Flood Watch

* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.

* WHERE...Interior Kuskokwim Delta, including Kwethluk, Kasigluk, Bethel, Napaskiak, Napakiak, Oscarville, and other nearby villages.

* WHEN...Through Saturday afternoon.

* IMPACTS...Excessive rain in combination of persistent high water levels and storm surge may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Low-water crossings may be flooded. Area creeks and streams are running high and could flood with more heavy rain.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - A strong storm projected to move into the eastern Bering Sea will bring heavy rainfall and storm surge to the area. The Kuskokwim River is currently running high, with statistics showing the river is already above the 90th percentile in flow for this time of year. 1 to 2 inches of rainfall across the Kilbuck Mountains, as well as across the lower Kuskokwim, is likely to exacerbate high water levels for the Kwethluk River, Johnson River / tundra villages, as well as other smaller tributaries and sloughs of the Kuskokwim.

Confidence is moderate-to-high that flooding of low-lying areas will occur for Kwethluk and Kasigluk, where high-water was reported last week. Confidence is lower for flooding elsewhere and will be dependent on the rainfall amount and degree of compounding effects from coastal surge and tide cycle.

- Http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood