Evacuations are underway in Juneau, Alaska, as concerns rise over potential record floods caused by glacial meltwater endangering local homes.
Evacuations Order Amid Glacial Melting Threatens Juneau, Alaska
Evacuations Order Amid Glacial Melting Threatens Juneau, Alaska
Residents evacuate as Mendenhall Glacier meltwater raises alarm for severe flooding.
In Juneau, Alaska, residents are currently evacuating their homes due to the alarming melt of the Mendenhall Glacier, leading to fears of unprecedented flooding. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a flood warning as water from a melting glacier is pouring into the Mendenhall River, posing a significant risk to nearby homes. Officials have been urging residents to be prepared for an evacuation for several days, and they confirmed on Tuesday that water began escaping from the glacier's ice dam, indicating that flooding was imminent.
The glacier, which is a stunning attraction located 12 miles (19km) outside Juneau, saw water levels rise to 9.85 ft (about 3m) on Tuesday—a height that is below the major flooding threshold of 14 ft. However, by Wednesday morning, levels had surged past 16 ft, reaching what is deemed as a crest. According to meteorologist Nicole Ferrin, this event is expected to set a new record for flooding, based on the current data.
The Juneau city website notes that glacial lake outbursts occur when meltwater from snow and ice conditions combine with rain and subsequently drain rapidly. This process is likened to removing a plug from an overly filled bathtub; once the water reaches a critical level, it can overflow over the glacier that originally contained it.
In response to this alarming situation, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy declared a state of disaster on Sunday, due to the imminent risk of catastrophic flooding resulting from the glacier lake outburst. Flooding has become a recurring threat in the region since 2011, with numerous homes damaged or destroyed in previous incidents—just last year, hundreds of residences suffered significant damage.
As mountain glaciers continue to shrink globally due to rising temperatures, researchers are increasingly concerned about the formation of glacial lakes that can suddenly burst. They have noted a rise in the number and size of these lakes since 1990. This trend, along with the unpredictable nature of the natural ice and rock dams, raises the stakes regarding potential floods, with climate change expected to exacerbate the frequency of such events in the coming years.
The glacier, which is a stunning attraction located 12 miles (19km) outside Juneau, saw water levels rise to 9.85 ft (about 3m) on Tuesday—a height that is below the major flooding threshold of 14 ft. However, by Wednesday morning, levels had surged past 16 ft, reaching what is deemed as a crest. According to meteorologist Nicole Ferrin, this event is expected to set a new record for flooding, based on the current data.
The Juneau city website notes that glacial lake outbursts occur when meltwater from snow and ice conditions combine with rain and subsequently drain rapidly. This process is likened to removing a plug from an overly filled bathtub; once the water reaches a critical level, it can overflow over the glacier that originally contained it.
In response to this alarming situation, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy declared a state of disaster on Sunday, due to the imminent risk of catastrophic flooding resulting from the glacier lake outburst. Flooding has become a recurring threat in the region since 2011, with numerous homes damaged or destroyed in previous incidents—just last year, hundreds of residences suffered significant damage.
As mountain glaciers continue to shrink globally due to rising temperatures, researchers are increasingly concerned about the formation of glacial lakes that can suddenly burst. They have noted a rise in the number and size of these lakes since 1990. This trend, along with the unpredictable nature of the natural ice and rock dams, raises the stakes regarding potential floods, with climate change expected to exacerbate the frequency of such events in the coming years.
