At the end of last week, during a heavy downpour, Nome set another climate record for 2019.
According to climate specialist Rick Thoman, from 10pm Thursday to 8pm Friday, Nome received 2.43 inches of rain. That broke the all-time record for precipitation in a 24-hour period, last set in 1956 with a total of 2.38 inches.
Despite the Gold Rush city’s record-breaking amount of rain, other parts of Western Alaska received even more precipitation by Saturday morning. Thoman says Elim recorded 3.28 inches, Koyuk had just over 3 inches, and Golovin saw 2.36 inches.
After Friday night, various reports of heavy rain and coastal flood warnings threatened Kotzebue residents’ boats near town, caused flooding at the old shipyard area in St. Michael, and brought high water to the Eastern Norton Sound as well as several rivers near Nome.
Water levels are expected to continue to go down, even as the National Weather Service calls for a chance of rain in Nome and most of the region today.
Image at top: Nome-area historical curiosity the “Last Train to Nowhere,” surrounded by water during coastal flooding, August 2019. Photo courtesy of Lisa Leeper.
