Alaska's River Breakup: High Alert for Flooding

0:00It's April 25th. This is Anchorage News Today, powered by AI. Alaska's river breakup season hits between the end of April and end of May, and is the state's biggest flooding threat every year. This time around, forecasters see signs of a dynamic breakup, the worst kind, thanks to extra thick ice and heavy snowpack on rivers like the Yukon and Tanana. Experts say this year's combo is rare because deep snow usually insulates the ice, keeping it thinner, but cold temps all winter delayed any melt. Hydrologists want a slow, steady warmup. Nothing sudden like 60's degree heat that could jam ice and flood everything fast. Communities along the Yukon, Tanana, Koyuk and Kaskokwim are on high alert, especially low-lying spots like Galina, Crooked Creek, Circle, Stevens, Village, and from Eagle to Fort Yukon. Most there should move vehicles, boats, snow machines, and docks to higher ground and check on elders and kids. The state kicks off river watch flights in early May, pairing emergency managers with

1:04hydrologists to scout rivers and update villages. Troublespots stand out on the upper Yukon, Tanana mouth, and Kaskokwim, but some areas like the Holitna and Anayak have lighter snowpack for less. Keep eyes on your local rivers and report to Abrifc at NOAA.gov or fresh eyes on ice stay safe out there as the fall rolls in.