Local News

Heavy Rain Causes High Water, Railroad Disruption

The Talkeetna and Susitna Rivers are under a flood advisory, and a landslide has caused a disruption in rail service to the north.

Heavy Rain Causes High Water, Railroad Disruption
High water flowing under the Talkeetna River railroad bridge on July 23, 2026.

As of Thursday afternoon, the area-wide flood watch has become a flood advisory for some areas.

The Little Susitna River is also under a flood advisory. Minor flooding is expected today.  The advisory lasts until Friday morning.

As of about 2:00 pm, the Talkeetna River at the Railroad Bridge had reached Minor Flood Stage. The Susitna River was expected to crest before reaching flood stage.

According to the National Weather Service, while the rain tapered off on Thursday afternoon, runoff from previous rainfall could still cause local rivers and streams to continue rising.  The Flood Advisory for the area is set to expire at 3:15 pm on Friday.

The heavy rain also caused a disruption in service to the Alaska Railroad north of Talkeetna. According to railroad spokesperson Meghan Clemens, a landslide up the tracks caused the cancellation of the northbound train out of Talkeetna on Thursday.  Clemens says a crew is on site working to clear the tracks.

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