As melting glaciers pose a significant threat, Juneau residents face evacuations due to the Mendenhall Glacier’s outburst. Flooding risk has risen sharply, prompting state disaster measures.
Evacuations Prompted in Juneau, Alaska as Glacier Outburst Sparks Flooding Fears
Evacuations Prompted in Juneau, Alaska as Glacier Outburst Sparks Flooding Fears
Residents near the Mendenhall Glacier brace for potential record flooding due to rapid meltwater release, leading to emergency evacuations.
Residents in Juneau, Alaska, are facing emergency evacuations due to a serious threat posed by melting ice from the Mendenhall Glacier. This rapid release of meltwater has created concerns about potential record flooding in the area, as the National Weather Service (NWS) issues a flood warning. Officials have been alerting the community about the dangers of this glacial outburst, with water already beginning to escape from a basin dammed by the glacier.
On Tuesday, flooding was anticipated as the NWS reported that water levels were on the rise, reaching nearly 9.85 feet (3 meters), just shy of major flooding thresholds that begin at 14 feet. However, by Wednesday, these levels spiked beyond 16 feet, marking a crest according to meteorologist Nicole Ferrin, who noted this could lead to unprecedented flooding levels.
Glacial lake outbursts occur when accumulated melting ice and rainfall generate enough water pressure to breach a glacier barrier, akin to removing a plug from a full bathtub. As a precaution, Alaska's Governor Mike Dunleavy declared a state disaster on Sunday, recognizing the acute danger posed by what has been termed a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF).
Residents have long been cognizant of the flooding risks tied to glacier melt; since 2011, there have been numerous incidents of severe flooding that have caused extensive damage to homes. In the previous year alone, hundreds of residences suffered damage from such natural hazards, underscoring the community's vulnerability in the face of climate change.
