Residents in Alaska have been warned to evacuate as snowmelt from the Mendenhall Glacier, which is about 12 miles from Juneau and is a popular tourist attraction, and heavy rains converge to threaten “record” flooding this week.
“A glacial outburst has occurred at Suicide Basin. The basin is releasing and flooding is expected along Mendenhall Lake and River,” Juneau officials said in a Tuesday news release. “Officials recommend residents in the 17ft lake level inundation zone evacuate the area until the flood waters recede.”
Residents In Juneau Warned
Officials warned those near Juneau to evacuate the area after they confirmed water started escaping into a huge basin dammed by the glacier. Residents in the area along the river were warned as the water that’s being released in the glacial outburst is flowing into the river, putting homes that are closest to the river at risk.
The National Weather Service said it expected flooding to peak at 4 p.m. local time Wednesday. “This will be a new record, based on all of the information that we have,” Nicole Ferrin, a weather service meteorologist, told a news conference Tuesday.
What Is Suicide Basin?
Suicide Basin is a glacial lake attached to the Mendenhall Glacier that runs up against the western portion of Juneau, per CNN. The basin formed as parts of its glacier melted and retreated and now acts like a giant bucket, filling up with rain, snow and ice that slowly melts over the summer.
On Wednesday morning the Mendenhall River eclipsed its record high level of 15.99 feet after rising more than seven feet since the National Weather Service first issues a flood warning for the area on Tuesday. It’s expected to crest at around 16.7 feet sometime Wednesday morning, well above the previous record crest set just last August.
“It’s very dangerous right now. Stay away if you can,” said Andrew Park, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Juneau, warning any mariners in the area to “keep your eyes peeled for big trees.”
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