Flood advisory issued for parts of MSB as another windstorm wreaks havoc

In the midst of another weekend windstorm, areas of the Mat-Su Borough are now under a flood advisory as a result of the warmer temperatures and moderate to heavy rainfall that has hit the lower elevations from the Mat-Su Valley down through the southern Kenai Peninsula overnight and into Sunday.

The rain and melting snow, combined with frozen ground is causing ponding and localized flooding along roads and low lying areas. According to the Palmer Police Department social media page, several streets in the city have some flooding, including intersections of Alaska Street and Arctic Avenue, and Colony Street and Fireweed Avenue. The PPD is advising caution to drivers, and to avoid routes near S. Valley Way between Fireweed and Elmwood.

There have also been reports of a possible mudslide as the PPD reported earlier in the afternoon of a small mudslide on 2nd Street.

Small streams in the area may also experience minor flooding with ice still intact in many areas. No flooding is expected along large rivers.

“We are asking people to use caution while driving and to try and avoid driving through deep water whenever possible. Blasting through the water can cause the vehicle to stall so drive slowly. Also, be cautious when walking through standing water that can hide uneven ice underneath and cause a hard fall.”

The Mat-Su Borough in a separate social media post that their Public Works departments have been inspecting roads in the Mat-Valley area for more roads being topped with water. The Department of Emergency Services is monitoring the situation.

People who live near or along area creeks and streams stay alert and be prepared to take action. It is also recommended that storm drains be kept clear of debris as much as possible. If drivers must drive, please maintain awareness of surroundings and avoid driving on flooded roads if possible.

Stay tuned to further developments by listening to your local radio, television, or NOAA Weather Radio for further information.

Meanwhile, over 7,000 customers woke up without power Sunday morning, according to Matanuska Electric Association (MEA), with most outages in Willow, where 2,200 members were without power; and a 2,400 member outage off Pittman. Later, another 2,000 members in the Butte/Old Glenn area, and a transmission level outage in Eagle River impacting 1,800 members. Some members remain without power for over 12 hours as crews and contractors continue to work Sunday afternoon and into the evening.

Downed trees and blown transmissions left crews and contractors working throughout the day and into the evening, conducting line patrols, removing trees in the lines and making repairs.

“We appreciate your patience and understanding as our crews continue working around the clock to safely restore power as quickly as possible. Please stay safe and avoid downed power line,” MEA wrote on their Facebook page.

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District said they are closely monitoring the unusual winter weather, including flooding in Palmer, releasing a statement Sunday evening: “Our teams are assessing school sites for any water or wind damage, and we will continue working with transportation providers to stay updated. Any necessary announcements will be made as early as possible, with a priority on what we know is best for academic achievement— as many students learning in-person as safely as possible.”

A winter weather advisory is in effect for heavy snow closer to Thompson Pass and along the Glenn Highway corridor west of Glennallen, with a forecast for total snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches for the Glenn Highway corridor and 12 to 24 inches possible toward Thompson Pass.

Meanwhile, snow, blowing snow, freezing rain, and rain. Freezing rain on top of cold, snow-covered roads is forecasted for the southern to western portions of the Copper River Basin, including the Richardson Highway toward Thompson Pass and the Glenn Highway west of Glennallen to around Chickaloon. The advisory remains in effect until 9 a.m. Monday. Plan on slippery road conditions.

This is a developing story.