Forecasters warn wet weather could flood areas from the Mat-Su through Kenai Peninsula

After heavy rain fell across much of Southcentral Alaska over the weekend, another round is expected on Monday.

A flood warning issued Friday is no longer in place. In an advisory issued on Sunday, the National Weather Service said the affected areas stretch from Talkeetna and Sutton in the Susitna and Matanuska valleys through Anchorage down to Homer at the southern end of the Kenai Peninsula.

“Widespread rain is expected to continue through tonight and then another round of rain beginning Monday afternoon and continuing through Tuesday,” the weather service said. “Additional rainfall is expected through most of next week.”

By Saturday, 2.75 inches of rain had already been reported in the Talkeetna Mountains. Nearly an inch fell in parts the Matanuska Valley and within the Anchorage Bowl.

Similar rain totals are expected by Monday morning in the region. The Prince William Sound area will see the most rainfall with 1 to 2 inches of additional precipitation. The Portage and Whittier areas are forecasted to get up to two 1.5 inches of precipitation, and the Susitna Valley area — up to another 0.75 inches.

For most locations, it will be the heaviest rain in a year.

“The prolonged rain event could push small streams and creeks to or slightly above bankfull. Smaller rivers could see water levels rise to bankfull, especially in the Mat-Su Valleys,” the weather service said.

Larger rivers are not expected to crest. That’s due in part to the drought conditions across much of Southcentral this summer, including the driest April to July period on record. Water levels along the Kenai River will stay high as storm water works its way down toward Cook Inlet.

Roadways could see localized flooding and the weather service advises motorists to exercise caution if they come upon ponding in roadways.

Forecast amounts of rain through Wednesday:

• Anchorage Bowl: 0.75″ to 1.00″

• Matanuska Valley: 1.00″ to 1.50″

• Susitna Valley: 0.50″ to 1.50″

• Western Kenai Peninsula: 0.25″ to 0.50″

• Eastern Kenai Peninsula: 0.25″ to 0.50″

• Whittier and Portage Valley: 1.0″ to 2.0″.