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National Weather Service issues flood warning for Mendenhall Glacier area

Published 5:28 am Friday, July 31, 2020

By Juneau Empire

People walk near Nugget Falls Thursday, July 30, 2020. A flood warning is in effect for Mendenhall Lake and Mendenhall River through 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020. As water levels rise, recreation sites near the glacier may be hazardous or inaccessible. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
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People walk near Nugget Falls Thursday, July 30, 2020. A flood warning is in effect for Mendenhall Lake and Mendenhall River through 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020. As water levels rise, recreation sites near the glacier may be hazardous or inaccessible. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

People walk near Nugget Falls Thursday, July 30, 2020. A flood warning is in effect for Mendenhall Lake and Mendenhall River through 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020. As water levels rise, recreation sites near the glacier may be hazardous or inaccessible. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
People walk near Nugget Falls Thursday, July 30, 2020. A flood warning is in effect for Mendenhall Lake and Mendenhall River through 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020. As water levels rise, recreation sites near the glacier may be hazardous or inaccessible. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A sign placed along the trail to Nugget Falls warns of potential flooding in this Thursday, July 30 photo. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

The National Weather Service in Juneau issued a flood warning for Mendenhall Lake and Mendenhall River.

The warning, which means that flooding is imminent or actively occurring, was issued Thursday evening, and it is in effect until 10 a.m. Saturday

The reason for the warning is a glacier-dammed lake outburst. The added water from the Suicide Basin glacier-dammed lake into the river system will cause Mendenhall River to rise over the next 24 hours, according to the weather service.

People who live along the Mendenhall River are advised by the weather services to be alert.

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