High surf in the west, rain and wind expected to return to South Central

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – All is quiet in the Southcentral, but a series of storms set to hit the state through next week will bring some busy weather. Numerous warnings and alerts have been issued across the state, with the greatest impacts felt in the Yukon Delta and Norton Sound.

SOUTH CENTRAL:

Southcentral will remain sunny and cloudy, although cloudy skies are also reported in the valley. Although calm in the morning, clouds are expected to gradually increase throughout the day. The low pressure system forming northeast over the Bering Sea will bring showers to Southcentral later this afternoon and into the evening. Rain will move from west to east, with the heaviest impacts felt this evening and into early Friday.

Rain will likely start in Kenai first, then gradually spread north and east throughout the night. While rain continues across the region, it will also bring windy conditions. While it won't be anywhere near what we experienced last weekend, be prepared for gusty winds and the possibility of power outages. Wind speeds will increase to as much as 40 mph in the South Central, with higher wind speeds along mountain slopes.

While not a lot of rain is expected, we will see showers overnight into Friday. Many areas will likely see well under 0.5 inches, although some of the heavier rain will be seen in Prince William Sound. There are signs that Friday will drier during the day, and the first day of the Alaska State Fair could bring just showers and some sunshine. Expect more showers and light winds through early next week.

SOUTHEAST:

Temperatures in the Panhandle will climb back into the 20s by the weekend as a high pressure system will bring hot and dry weather. The latest drought monitor continues to show a growing drought problem in Southeast Alaska, where about 1 percent of the state is in moderate drought.

Temperatures will rise to over 18 to under 25 degrees today, and on Sunday the mercury is expected to rise to almost 27 degrees. The spell of sunny and hot weather will end later on Sunday, and showers and cooler weather will set in on Monday next week.

INNER:

Inland, winds will increase throughout the day, with some of the strongest winds blowing through the Alaska Range. A wind advisory has been issued, with parts of the Denali Borough expecting wind gusts up to 65 mph. The strong southerly winds will bring warmer weather inland, with highs today in the 60s and 70s. While not a great deal of rain is expected, a gradual return of showers is expected toward the end of the week.

Isolated to periodic rain showers are forecast for the weekend and the beginning of next week. The warmest day will be Sunday, when maximum temperatures are expected to rise to 25 to 25 degrees.

SLOPE/WEST ALASKA:

Low building to the north and east through the Bering will greatly affect weather on the Slope and in western Alaska late in the week. Storm Number 1 is already bringing areas of high surf near the Yukon Delta and Norton Sound, where large waves of 6 to 8 feet are likely. Be prepared for the possibility of coastal erosion and sustained winds.

Heavy rain is expected in the western regions. A flood warning is in effect for the Seward Peninsula. It is very likely that the western and southwestern Alaska regions could see up to 4 inches of rain, if not more, by early next week.

Storms 1 and 2 are expected to impact the region throughout the weekend and into next weekend, with daytime highs above 10 degrees Celsius.

Aleutian Islands:

A series of storms will be brewing in the Aleutian Islands over the coming days, likely bringing heavy rain, rough seas and wind. It will also be dry between storms, with Storm Number 2 expected to arrive tonight through Friday. This period of unsettled weather will bring heavy rain to the Aleutian Islands through next week, with winds expected to gust to 50 mph and highs around 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

OUTLOOK:

The overall weather pattern will bring us stormy weather through next week. While the impacts will be felt primarily in Western Alaska, rain showers will also remain in Southcentral Alaska and the interior. Towards the end of August, it looks like we will see more storms, bringing the wettest weather near the Northwest Arctic Borough. Highs across the state will likely be between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius across much of Alaska, with only the interior and southeast expected to see highs between 21 and 25 degrees Celsius.

I wish you a wonderful and safe Thursday as the children go back to school.