It may be January, but the unusually warm, rainy weather feels more like spring breakup, and it's bringing the kind of flooding concerns also usually not seen in the Anchorage area until later in the year.

Anchorage, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and the Kenai Peninsula are under a flood watch from Friday morning through Monday morning.

NWS Alaska meteorologist Tim Markle said the warnings are designed to let community members know when the cold weather presents a risk to the community. However, the old system set wind chill warnings and advisories, which were statewide in scope, and only kicked in when there was a wind chill.

As Anchorage navigates through a warmer-than-usual winter, meteorologists predict a continuation of the milder temperatures.

The Gulf Coast city that rarely sees snowflakes has received more than double the snowfall that Anchorage has since Dec. 1, the start of the meteorological winter.

New Orleans has received more snowfall since the start of meteorological winter than many cold-weather cities across the country.

The largest populated city in Alaska is still recovering from the hurricane-force winds that battered homes and infrastructure on Sunday, leaving thousands without power.

Cairo and its ancient pyramids sits on nearly the exact same line of latitude as the Mississippi Coast. Weather there on Wednesday peaked at 71 degrees with a light rain around noon. Dead pharaohs can expect temps to rest in the upper 60s for the remainder of the week.

The storm that struck New Orleans this week left the Gulf Coast city under twice as much snow as Anchorage, Alaska has received in nearly two months. "New Orleans, we'd like our snow back," the NWS Anchorage office said.

Unseasonably low amounts of snow coupled with heavy rain and wind has prevented prep skiers in Anchorage from taking part in the sport they love or are trying for the first time.

Rain showers continue for Southeast, where less than half an inch is expected today. Most locations will see lingering showers into Friday before tapering off. While rain is to be expected, higher elevation of the Klondike and Haines Highway will see a rain/snow mix.

The builder of the icebreaker Aiviq has given more than $7 million to political campaigns, parties and committees since 2012. Under pressure from Congress, the Coast Guard purchased the vessel late last year.