A strong front moved through the Panhandle on the morning of Tuesday August 18th. This system had abundant amount of moisture associated with the cold front as the system originated from the North Pacific and was able to tap into tropical moisture. The front produced very heavy precipitation along coastal locations and prolonged moderate rain further inland. The heavy rain produced flooding over the Sitka area and in the Taiya River basin along the Chilkoot trail near Skagway. The strong winds that accompanied the front along with the very high rain fall rates caused several landslides along the central outer coast with three fatalities in Sitka. As the front moved through the inner channels there was a brief strong wind that occurred near Skagway.

Flash Flood in SITKA COASTAL, ALASKA
From 18-AUG-15 09:00:00 to 18-AUG-15 11:00:00 (AKST-9)
Location: SITKA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.70M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A strong cold front with sub-tropical moisture moved into the eastern gulf and moved over the coastal areas of Southeast Alaska. As the front approached the coastal area of Sitka very high rain rates were being reported across the area in the early morning hours which lasted less than 6 hours. In three hours the Sitka airport reported  one point seven inches which was a 25 year rainfall intensity return period. The Sitka Magnetic Observatory Climate Reference Station (CRN), which is closer to steep terrain, reported two point zero one inches was a 45 year rainfall intensity return period. Along with the very high rain rates there was also very strong winds of thirty-three mile per hour with much high wind gusts at higher elevations. The combination of the heavy rain and strong winds caused catastrophic debris flows across the Sitka area on the morning of August 18th. Multiple roads were blocked along with homes damaged or destroyed and  there was 3 fatalities in Cramer Ave slide. A state of emergency was declared and as one point seven million dollars worth of damage was done.

High Wind in TAIYA INLET AND KLONDIKE HIGHWAY, ALASKA
From 18-AUG-15 00:53:00 to 18-AUG-15 06:53:00 (AKST-9)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Skagway Airport observed 55 MPH gusts during the morning of August 18th. Nearby marine observations had gusts in excess of 65 mph.

Flood in TAIYA INLET, ALASKA
From 18-AUG-15 03:00:00 to 19-AUG-15 03:00:00 (AKST-9)
Location: SKAGWAY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Heavy rain moved over the area through the day on the 18th and the Taiya River began to rise significantly through the day as the moist weather front moved over Southeast Alaska. The freezing levels were very high and ample amount of moist as the front had sub-tropical characteristics. The river crested in the afternoon at a stage of seventeen point twenty seven feet. This was just over moderate flood stage of seventeen feet and it flooded the Chilkoot  trail with knee to thigh deep water in places. The river was below minor flood stage by the early morning of the 19th.

Debris Flow in SITKA COASTAL, ALASKA
From 18-AUG-15 09:00:00 to 18-AUG-15 11:00:00 (AKST-9)
Location: SITKA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.70M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A strong cold front with sub-tropical moisture moved into the eastern gulf and moved over the coastal areas of Southeast Alaska. As the front approached the coastal area of Sitka very high rain rates were being reported across the area in the early morning hours which lasted less than 6 hours. In three hours the Sitka airport reported  one point seven inches which was a 25 year rainfall intensity return period. The Sitka Magnetic Observatory Climate Reference Station (CRN), which is closer to steep terrain, reported two point zero one inches was a 45 year rainfall intensity return period. Along with the very high rain rates there was also very strong winds of thirty-three mile per hour with much high wind gusts at higher elevations. The combination of the heavy rain and strong winds caused catastrophic debris flows across the Sitka area on the morning of August 18th. Multiple roads were blocked along with homes damaged or destroyed and  there was 3 fatalities in Cramer Ave slide. A state of emergency was declared and as one point seven million dollars worth of damage was done.