Flooding and High Wind in Alaska, August 28 to 31, 2001

A strong front, moving north and northwest from the Gulf of Alaska, was preceded by strong easterly winds and accompanied by heavy rains. Gusts reached a reported 92 mph around the Eyak Lake area of Cordova. Damage there was slight, confined to cosmetic wing damage when two float planes rubbed against each other.Heavy rains, occurred over the eastern Kenai Mountains, beginning on the night of August 27th, and continued through most of the day on the 28th. Rainfall totals between Seward and Portage ranged from two to four inches. The larger streams and rivers started to rise substantially during the late afternoon of the 28th, subsequently a Small Stream Flood Advisory was issued on the afternoon of the 28th. There were no reports of small stream flooding. On the 29th, it became apparent that water levels in Snow River and Trail Lakes were rising rapidly, prompting a Flood Warning for the greater Kenai Lake area. The water level on Kenai Lake rose 2.5 ft between the morning of the 28th and the 31st. The only flooding reported occurred on Primrose Road, which serves as an access to a National Forest campground. The ponded water on the road was approximately 17 inches dep in the center of the road near the boat ramp. There was no flooding in any of the houses built along the west side of the road, since they are all elevated three to four feet above the road bed. The water level on Lower Trail Lake near Moose Pass reached bankfull on the 30th, however there was no associated flooding. The Kenai river at Cooper Landing crested at 13.5 ft around noon the 31st, however there was no flooding on the Kenai River during this event.