Residents in Juneau, Alaska, face an urgent evacuation as a rapid outflow of glacial meltwater from the Mendenhall Glacier's dam threatens to inundate the area with record-breaking floods. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a flood alert for the region, indicating that glacial outburst water is pouring into the Mendenhall River, endangering nearby homes and properties. Following days of cautionary announcements from local officials, reassurance is scarce as Tuesday reports confirmed that water was breaching the ice dam, with flooding anticipated imminently.
Located just 12 miles (19 km) from Juneau, the famed Mendenhall Glacier has seen rising water levels trigger concern amongst residents. As of Tuesday, levels rose to 9.85ft (3m), approximately 4ft shy of the critical flooding threshold of 14ft. However, by Wednesday morning, levels surged to over 16ft, surpassing previous records, as weather service meteorologist Nicole Ferrin stated at a press conference that "this will be a new record, based on all of the information that we have."
The Juneau city website explains that these glacial lake outbursts occur when accumulated meltwater floods rapidly, akin to pulling a plug from a full bathtub. As temperatures continue to rise due to climate change, glaciers worldwide are shrinking, causing even more meltwater to pool in glacial lakes. These natural dams can burst unexpectedly, leading to catastrophic flooding.
In response to the alarming situation, Governor Mike Dunleavy has declared a state disaster, citing the imminent threat of catastrophic flooding from a glacier lake outburst flood (GLOF) affecting Juneau. Flooding has been an ongoing threat in the area since 2011, and last year alone, hundreds of residences were damaged or destroyed by similar deluges, solidifying community fears regarding the seasonal floods. As scientists warn of increasing occurrences of such events due to climate change, the recent flurry of activity around glacial lakes raises alarms for the future.
