As glacial meltwater escapes from a reservoir blocked by the Mendenhall Glacier, authorities are urging residents to leave their homes due to an imminent flooding crisis. Drawing attention from the National Weather Service (NWS) in Juneau, officials issued a flood warning following the release of images depicting the growing outburst.
Located merely 12 miles (19 kilometers) from the state capital, the Mendenhall Glacier is a renowned tourist destination, but the rapid drain of meltwater into the Mendenhall River now presents serious risks to nearby communities. Over several days, city officials consistently alerted residents to the possibility of evacuations, and by Tuesday, they confirmed the initial escape of glacial water.
By then water levels reached 9.85 ft (3m), remaining below the critical flood point of 14 ft. However, a dramatic rise occurred, and by Wednesday morning, the levels shot up over 16 ft, marking a significant threshold. "This will be a new record, based on all of the information that we have," stated Nicole Ferrin, a meteorologist with the NWS during a press briefing, warning of the potential for unprecedented flooding.
The city of Juneau’s information page clarifies that glacial lake outburst floods occur when water that has accumulated from melting ice and snow is released swiftly, likening it to removing a drain plug from a full bathtub. This triggering event happens when the waters overrun a glacier that has so far contained them.
On Sunday, in anticipation of the flooding, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy declared a state of emergency, fueled by the "imminent threat of catastrophic flooding from a glacier lake outburst." The region has long faced flooding issues; since 2011, homes have suffered damage and destruction from seasonal inundations, with previous years witnessing substantial impacts to hundreds of residences.
As Alaska grapples with the increasing frequency of such natural events, the spotlight is on the pressing need for community resilience and preparedness against the more frequent threats posed by climate change and glacial melt dynamics.
Located merely 12 miles (19 kilometers) from the state capital, the Mendenhall Glacier is a renowned tourist destination, but the rapid drain of meltwater into the Mendenhall River now presents serious risks to nearby communities. Over several days, city officials consistently alerted residents to the possibility of evacuations, and by Tuesday, they confirmed the initial escape of glacial water.
By then water levels reached 9.85 ft (3m), remaining below the critical flood point of 14 ft. However, a dramatic rise occurred, and by Wednesday morning, the levels shot up over 16 ft, marking a significant threshold. "This will be a new record, based on all of the information that we have," stated Nicole Ferrin, a meteorologist with the NWS during a press briefing, warning of the potential for unprecedented flooding.
The city of Juneau’s information page clarifies that glacial lake outburst floods occur when water that has accumulated from melting ice and snow is released swiftly, likening it to removing a drain plug from a full bathtub. This triggering event happens when the waters overrun a glacier that has so far contained them.
On Sunday, in anticipation of the flooding, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy declared a state of emergency, fueled by the "imminent threat of catastrophic flooding from a glacier lake outburst." The region has long faced flooding issues; since 2011, homes have suffered damage and destruction from seasonal inundations, with previous years witnessing substantial impacts to hundreds of residences.
As Alaska grapples with the increasing frequency of such natural events, the spotlight is on the pressing need for community resilience and preparedness against the more frequent threats posed by climate change and glacial melt dynamics.
