Warm afternoon temperatures, warm air in the lower levels of the
atmosphere, and high freezing levels above 8,000 feet will work to
increase the amount of snow and ice melt at higher elevations
flowing into the Chilkat River Basin. Water levels will rise and
fall on a diurnal pattern.
* WHAT…Flooding caused by snowmelt continues.
* WHERE…The Chilkat River near areas around mile post 14 and 24 of
the Haines Highway near Klukwan and the Chilkat River Bridge.
* WHEN…Until 1000 PM AKDT Sunday.
* IMPACTS…Minor flooding in low-lying areas near the river.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…
– At 346 AM AKDT, river gauge reports indicate rises in water
levels from upper elevation snowmelt across the advisory
area. The Chilkat River gauge near Klukwan shows that the
stage was at 127.2 ft as of 3:00 am Sunday. Minor flood stage
is 126.0 ft. With warm weather continuing, minor flooding is
expected to continue near the Chilkat River.
– For Chilkat River at Klukwan:
At 3:00 am the stage was 127.2 feet and rising.
Flood Stage is 126 feet.
Forecast: A crest of around 127.6 feet is expected late
Sunday morning. Then, it should slowly fall through Sunday
night, dropping below minor flood stage.
Impacts:
At 126 feet: Bankfull stage. Water will begin to flood
backyards along the Chilkat River in the village of Klukwan.
At 126.5 feet: Expect flooding of yards and bank erosion near
the Jilkaat Kwan Cultural Heritage Center Campus Traditional
Knowledge camp in the village of Klukwan. Water will flood
lower elevations in backyards along the Chilkat River near
Klukwan and start to impact some smokehouse and a river
access road.