Flood warnings across the country dropped to 13 active alerts Friday — down from 15 Thursday and 20 earlier this week — but the shrinking count comes with a new entry: Maine is on the board for the first time in this storm cycle, joining Alaska, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, and Washington on the national flood map.
Maine: Saco River Warning Spans Three Counties
The National Weather Service in Gray, Maine issued a Flood Warning for the Saco River at Conway, placing Oxford, Carroll, and Cumberland counties under alert for minor flooding expected to persist through late Friday evening. The agency’s threshold for impact at that gauge is 10.0 feet, at which point floodwaters begin surrounding properties in the area. Portland weather — in Cumberland County — will be influenced by river conditions through the overnight hours.
Alaska: Yukon and Kuskokwim Delta Remain Under Pressure
The ice-jam emergency that defined the Alaska picture earlier this week has not relented. The National Weather Service is maintaining flood warnings through Friday evening for the Middle Yukon Valley, covering the communities of Galena, Nulato, Kaltag, and Koyukuk, as the breakup front continues its advance downriver. Forecasters note the front is actively progressing — a phrase that signals conditions can deteriorate quickly and with little warning. The Interior Kuskokwim Delta, added to the warning list Thursday, also remains under alert, with high water threatening rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying locations across a remote and sparsely monitored region.
Indiana: White River Receding but Still in Flood Stage
At Hazleton, the White River has passed its crest and river levels are gradually falling. The National Weather Service expects minor flooding to continue through late Friday or into early Saturday morning before the warning is lifted. Gibson and Knox counties are the primary areas affected.
Louisiana: Gulf Coast and Mississippi Border Still Watching
St. Tammany Parish remains under a flood warning as elevated river stages persist north of Lake Pontchartrain. The National Weather Service has also issued alerts covering Hancock and Pearl River counties along the Mississippi border — areas draining toward the Gulf through the same coastal river system. Residents in and around New Orleans should continue tracking river stage forecasts as Gulf Coast drainage remains sluggish.
What to Watch
The National Weather Service urges a straightforward precaution that bears repeating: turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood fatalities occur in vehicles. Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or through flooded areas. Those in ice-jam zones in Alaska face an additional complication — breakup flooding can arrive with minimal lead time as ice releases upstream.
The 13-warning total marks a significant pullback from the week’s peak, but with Alaska’s breakup season still active and Gulf Coast rivers slow to drain, the national count is unlikely to reach zero quickly.