Extreme waves and heavy rain: Alaska hit by the worst storm in the last 50 years

A powerful storm is sweeping over western Alaska, causing massive waves of bad weather and flooding that have ripped some homes from their foundations, US forecasters said

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The remnants of Pacific Typhoon Merbok created one of the strongest storms to hit the region at this time of year in decades and are expected to hit the coast all weekend. 

Hazardous conditions include "extreme waves, storm surges, hurricane wind gusts, coastal erosion and heavy rain," the US National Weather Service (NWS) told Twitter on Twitter.

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There have been no immediate reports of injuries or deaths, Governor Mike Dunleavy said.

"This is arguably the strongest storm in the Bering Sea in the last 50 years at this point in the fall," Rick Thoman, a climate scientist at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, told AFP by email.

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Alaska typhoon Merbok

In the coastal village of Golovin, the Fairbanks office said "water surrounds the school, houses and facilities are flooded."

The NWS described "very rough seas" along the coast around Nome, with a tide approaching 3 meters, the highest since a 1974 flood. 

Wind gusts of up to 90mph have been recorded, according to the NWS, and even stronger gusts are expected.

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With the storm heading north, flood warnings remain in effect throughout the weekend in the southern coastal areas and northern regions, NWS officials said in a Facebook briefing.

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Alaska typhoon Merbok