As the melting Mendenhall Glacier leads to a surge of water threatening both property and safety, local officials are taking precautionary measures amidst rising concerns over climate change implications.
Evacuations Prompted in Juneau, Alaska Amid Fears of Catastrophic Glacier Flooding
Evacuations Prompted in Juneau, Alaska Amid Fears of Catastrophic Glacier Flooding
Residents of Juneau, Alaska face evacuations due to rising flood threats from glacial melt.
Alaskan authorities have issued a flood warning following significant glacial melt from the Mendenhall Glacier, which has led to the rapid filling of glacial lakes and the potential for record flooding in Juneau. Residents are being urged to evacuate as pipes that typically manage the water have overflowed, prompting statewide disaster declarations by Governor Mike Dunleavy. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed that water levels rose from 9.85 feet to over 16 feet within a day, surpassing marks that indicate significant flooding is likely. This phenomenon of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), where meltwater escapes suddenly from a dammed glacier basin, underscores the growing risks in the region.
Flooding has become an annual threat in Juneau, a trend exacerbated by climate change, with major incidents reported since 2011. As global temperatures continue to rise, scientists predict that incidents of glacial flooding are likely to increase, presenting urgent challenges for communities reliant on glacier-fed water reservoirs.
Flooding has become an annual threat in Juneau, a trend exacerbated by climate change, with major incidents reported since 2011. As global temperatures continue to rise, scientists predict that incidents of glacial flooding are likely to increase, presenting urgent challenges for communities reliant on glacier-fed water reservoirs.
