Flood Warning

Mendenhall Lake gauge levels, along with USGS imagery from Suicide Basin and water levels within the basin, indicate that the release has ended. The river has crested around 14.7' and will continue to drop through the afternoon and evening. Flooding will continue through this evening until the river falls out of flood stage late tonight.

* WHAT...Flooding caused by a glacier-dammed lake outburst continues.

* WHERE...The Mendenhall Lake And River near the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation area, View Drive and below Back Loop bridge.

* WHEN...Until 430 AM AKDT Friday.

* IMPACTS...Flooding of the area around Mendenhall Lake and along the Mendenhall River is ongoing. Water levels will continue to drop through this afternoon and evening while water temperatures in the lake and river will stay cold.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 430 PM AKDT, gauge data reported a glacier-dammed lake outburst is ongoing. Flooding is ongoing near the Mendenhall Lake And River. - The outburst flood forecast is based on an estimated volume of water in the glacier dammed lake and an estimated release rate based on previous events. The extent of water drainage within the basin (partial or full) can vary widely between outburst flood events and is a major source of uncertainty in the forecast, particularly with regard to the peak flood stage. - For Mendenhall Lake : At 4:15pm the stage was 12.8 feet. Flood Stage is 9.0 feet. Water levels will go below minor flood stage around 9pm.

Impacts: At 10.0 feet: Water levels will inundate Mendenhall Campground with up to 3 feet of water covering low areas as well as up to 1.5 feet of water covering Skaters Cabin Road. Portions of West Glacier Trail will be impassable. Areas along View Dr will start to flood and cause minor flooding of yards. Closure of pedestrian pathways beneath Brotherhood Bridge and the trail system on the west side of Mendenhall River during outburst events. At 11.0 feet: Some homes along View Dr will have up to 1.5 feet of water in yards. Locations below back loop bridge will see bank erosion along unreinforced river banks along with hazardous navigation from debris in the river. Homes along the river on Meander Way will begin to see flooding of some backyards on the outside of the HESCO levee. Portions of the Dredge Lake Trail System will be impassable. Flood waters start to reach Dredge Lake. At 12.0 feet: Significant bank erosion along unreinforced river banks. The low section of road past 9374 View Dr will be flooded with up to 0.5 feet of water. Some houses on the south side and the east end of View Dr will start to flood. Water begins to flood some backyards of homes on the northside of View Dr as well as other low lying areas. Back Loop Rd Bridge will be closed during outburst events.