Flood Warning

Mendenhall Lake gauge levels, along with USGS imagery from Suicide Basin and water levels within the basin, indicate that the release is ending. The river has crested around 14.7' and will continue to drop through the afternoon and evening. The crest will take time to work down the river but places should start to see water recede in the next hour. 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 start to drop through this afternoon and evening while water temperatures in the lake and river will stay cold.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 255 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 2:15 pm the stage was 14.6 feet, in Major Flood Stage. Water levels will go below major flood stage around 5:00pm Thursday. Water levels will go below minor flood stage around 9:00pm 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.