Flooding in Juneau, Alaska, is caused by the retreat of a smaller glacier near Mendenhall Glacier, which leaves a basin that fills with rainwater and snowmelt each year. The water builds pressure and forces its way under or around the ice dam created by Mendenhall Glacier, causing flooding in Mendenhall Lake and River. Since 2011, the flooding has impacted homes and streets near the lake and river, but this week’s flooding was unprecedented.
Climate change has minimal impact on the year-to-year variations in the volume of flooding in Juneau. Professor Eran Hood of the University of Alaska Southeast, who has studied the Mendenhall Glacier, states that floods will persist on a decadal timescale in the future. The city of Juneau, which is only reachable by plane or boat, is facing challenges like a housing shortage and limited rental car agencies, making it difficult to provide temporary accommodations for flood victims.
The Mendenhall River reached a new record high during the recent flooding, surpassing last year’s flood levels by about a foot. The floodwaters extended farther into the Mendenhall Valley, reaching some homes outside expected flood areas. Residents like Alyssa Fischer had to evacuate to a shelter with their children and pets when the flooding caught them by surprise, causing damage to property like her truck’s license plate. The flooding serves as a reminder of the global risk posed by bursting snow-and-ice dams, known as jökulhlaups, which could threaten millions of people worldwide.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
