A strong and very moist weather front with a tropical connection moved across Southeast Alaska January 13 and 14. An anomalous ridge of high pressure set up over the eastern Pacific and western North America during the first week of January. The blocking ridge was oriented in a way that it steered a large plume of high precipitable water values northward. The associated atmospheric river moved into the eastern Gulf of Alaska from the North Pacific and then over the panhandle on January 14. The front produced strong wind gusts over the area as the front moved over the area. The combination of the wind and very wet soil conditions from almost 35 straight days of rain produced mud-slides over Prince of Wales Island, Ketchikan and Sitka areas near steep terrain and/or clear cut areas.

Flood in CRAIG COASTAL, ALASKA
From 14-JAN-14 00:00:00 to 14-JAN-14 20:00:00 (AKST-9)
Location: KLAWOCK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

It rained seventeen point thirty four inches over a thirty seven day period on Prince of Wales Island. There was just two days over that period of time that no rain fell for an average of just under one half of an inch of rain per day. The strong weather front that moved over the area on January 14 produced two point forty two inches and broke the daily rainfall record, the previous record was one point forty seven inches from 2007. All of the record rainfall that day transferred into runoff and produced a record stream flow stage along the Staney Creek of seventeen point fifty five feet which broke the previous record of seventeen point twenty from 1993. There was moderate flooding from the rainfall along local streams and rivers with some impacts to homes. The very moist antecedent soil conditions, high rain rates along with strong winds gusts of fifty mph triggered land/mudslides near steep terrain and logging areas. These slides knocked down power lines and blocked roads. One big mud slide in particular blocked the main highway between Hollis and Craig for a period of time.

Flood in KETCHIKAN CHANNELS, ALASKA
From 14-JAN-14 00:00:00 to 14-JAN-14 18:00:00 (AKST-9)
Location: KETCHIKAN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 8.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

It rained thirty seven point twenty three inches over the Ketchikan area for about thirty six days straight with just 4 days less than a trace. A strong weather front moved through the area and produced heavy rain of three point twenty one inches on January 14. The very moist antecedent soil conditions, high rain rates along with strong winds gusts of fifty-eight mph triggered land/mudslides. These slides knocked down power lines and the power to the entire city of Ketchikan for a few hours. A slide on Price of Wales Island damaged a home near the Hollis area with another big slide that blocked the road near the town of Coffman Cove.

Flood in SITKA COASTAL, ALASKA
From 14-JAN-14 00:00:00 to 14-JAN-14 20:00:00 (AKST-9)
Location: SITKA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 300.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

It rained for thirty seven days with one day without any precipitation for a total of twenty two point nine inches over the Sitka area. The average daily rainfall for this time period was greater than one half of inch of rain per day. A strong weather front moved through the area and produced heavy rain of three point fifty six inches on January 14. This broke the previous daily record of three point twenty three inches from 1965. The very moist antecedent soil conditions, high rain rates along with strong winds gusts of forty five mph triggered land/mudslides and flooded lakes and rivers. A mudslide was triggered in the Cascade Creek Road neighborhood that damaged an apartment building that was knocked off it foundation along with mud and water in the building. There was visual reports that Cascade Creek was at flow levels not seen in twenty years. There was also numerous parking lots flooded and Indian River was flowing out of its banks flooding Indian River road and destroying the trail.