Alaskans continue to grapple with fallout from typhoon-related flooding

This weekend, a low-pressure system spinning out from Alaska made its way down the coast to northern California, bringing rare September rain to the region. The downpours aided efforts to contain the 19 sq mile (49 sq km) Mosquito fire in the Sierra Nevada foothills, but raised new concerns.

Lingering showers over the Mosquito fire will increase the risk of ash and mud flows, the National Weather Service said. To the north-west, localized flooding and mudslides were reported in parts of the coast scarred from a massive wildfire two years ago.

The cascading crises up and down the western coast of the US come after scientists have warned for years that global heating will make Alaska more vulnerable to large nontropical cyclones, even as it drives drier, hotter conditions that fuel damaging wildfires across the west.

The tide gauge in Nome on Saturday was 10.52ft (3.2m) above the low tide line, the highest recorded since 1974.

Governor Mike Dunleavy, who issued a disaster declaration Saturday morning, said that officials hope to speed up recovery efforts before the region begins to freeze up in about three weeks.