Flood Warning

Mendenhall Lake gauge levels, along with USGS imagery from Suicide Basin and water levels within the basin, indicate that the basin is continuing its release of water into Mendenhall Lake and River. Levels on the Mendenhall Lake and River will rise through today as the release continues, with a forecast crest between 15.8 to 16.3 feet expected Thursday between 2pm to 6pm.

* 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 rise through Thursday afternoon while water temperatures will fall within the lake and river.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 941 AM 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 9:15 am the stage was 13.2 feet and rising, in Moderate Flood Stage. Water levels will go above major flood stage around 11:00am Thursday. A crest between 15.8 and 16.3 feet is expected between 2pm and 6pm Thursday.

Impacts: At 13.0 feet: The low section of road past 9374 View Dr will be flooded with 2 ft of water. Water begins to flow through some backyards of homes on the northside of View Dr and flood low lying areas. A few locations on View Dr will see depths of 1 to 2 feet of water in homes.

At 14.0 feet: The low section of road past 9374 View Dr will be significantly flooded and impassable. Water will begin to flow over the road from water flowing behind homes on the north side of View Dr. More homes along View Dr will begin to see moderate to major flooding. Locations on River Rd with low river banks will begin to see water approach driveways.

At 15.0 feet: Major flooding of multiple homes along View Dr. Water will begin to approach a few homes along River Rd with low river banks with possible flooding of driveways and 1 to 2 feet of water in backyards. Up to 1 foot of water covering Riverside Dr at Tournure St and Mendenhall River School.

At 16.0 feet: Water starts to overtop the bank and flood low lying areas near Wildmeadow Ln. Up to 0.5 feet of water will be in the intersection of Skaters Cabin Rd and Arctic Cir. Some backyards of homes between Tamarack Ct and Whitewater Ct will start to see flood waters along with water approaching River Rd near homes with low river banks and possibly flooding those homes. Water will start to flood backyards of homes on Meadow Ln and Stikine St.

At 17.0 feet: This is an estimate that water will be overtopping the river banks and flooding into the homes around Wildmeadow Ln. Businesses in the Vintage Park Blvd area will be surrounded and potentially inundated by flood waters. Homes on Meadow Ln from Stikine St to Eagle St will be inundated with flood water. Water will be covering Tournure St from Riverside Dr to Columbia Blvd. Black Wolf Way and Pond Vista Dr will have water across the roads. All parts of View Dr will be covered by flood water.