Alaska Officials Advise Evacuation as Mendenhall Glacier Melting Causes Major Flooding

Strategic Insights -

Alaskan residents and officials are bracing for major flooding in the state's capital city, Juneau, due to a rapidly melting glacier. The Mendenhall River has reached a record level, with the National Weather Service forecasting it to crest at nearly 17 feet on Wednesday. The flooding is caused by a "glacier-dammed lake outburst," or GLOF, where water accumulates behind a glacial dam and is released, causing devastating effects downstream.

Key Takeaways:

  • The city and borough of Juneau have advised residents to evacuate the area due to the Mendenhall River's rapid rise, reaching a record level of nearly 17 feet.
  • The flooding is being caused by a "glacier-dammed lake outburst," or GLOF, which occurs when a lake dammed by ice or a glacial deposit gives way and releases heavy amounts of water into river systems further downstream.
  • The Mendenhall River had already reached 16.17 feet as of 10 a.m. EDT on Wednesday and was still rising, with officials warning it could become a life-threatening situation.
  • Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, posted about the imminent threat of catastrophic flooding on social media, while Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued a disaster declaration on Sunday in response to the potential flooding.
  • The flood warning is scheduled to remain in effect until 12 p.m. EDT on Thursday.

Statistics:

  • The Mendenhall River has reached a record level of 16.17 feet as of 10 a.m. EDT on Wednesday.
  • The river is expected to crest at nearly 17 feet on Wednesday.
  • The flooding is being caused by a GLOF event, which has also occurred in August of last year, causing the river to reach a then-record level of 15.99 feet.

Sources:

  • UPI (a wire service of the United Press International)
  • The National Weather Service (no specific date provided)
  • Sen. Lisa Murkowski's X (Twitter) post (no date provided)
  • Alaska Governor's office press release (no date provided)