* WHAT…Flooding caused by snowmelt continues to be possible.
* WHERE…Rivers and creeks draining the Brooks Range including
areas around Atigun Pass, Galbraith Lake, and The Dalton Highway
from Mp 232 To Mp 322, the Central Arctic Plains, Central Beaufort
Sea Coast, Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast, and Western Arctic Plains.
* WHEN…Through Tuesday afternoon.
* IMPACTS…Rapid snowmelt and ice jams could lead to flooding of
rivers and streams across the North Slope. Access to roads,
airstrips, and low-lying infrastructure may be affected. High
flows could lead to bank erosion that could threaten nearby roads.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…
– Flooding is likely across portions of the North Slope due to
an unusually deep and persistent late-season snowpack
combined with a sharp and prolonged warming trend through
next week. A rapid onset of snowmelt has begun as
temperatures have warmed into the 50’s and 60’s over the past
couple of days across the North Slope and are expected to
remain well above average through the middle of next week.
River levels have begun to rise and will likely crest early
next week. Ice has begun to breakup on the upper part of the
Sag River on Thursday with DOT reporting water over a portion
of the Dalton Highway near MP 323. Reports also show that the
Colville River is beginning to breakup. A 2-mile long ice jam
was reported Friday evening along the Colville at Ocean Point
with no flooding or impacts. Intact ice remains on many of
the larger rivers, and the sudden influx of snowmelt runoff
could lead to ice jam formation. These jams can cause sudden
and severe rises in water levels, posing a significant threat
to roads or other infrastructure near the affected waterways.
– Http://www.weather.gov/aprfc