For those interested in breakup progress, here's a nice resource for daily-updated webcam views:
http://fresheyesonice.org/view-data/realtime-data/river-ice-camera/
Yesterday's photos are linked below via Twitter. There's no significant breakup yet; the ice is getting soft under the sun with warm afternoon temperatures, but nights have been cold. Fairbanks has yet to see a daily mean temperature above freezing, and this is unusual: in the past 30 years, only 2013 and 2002 had zero thaw degree days by April 15. Of course 2013 was the coldest April on record in Fairbanks, with a record late breakup at Nenana, and 2002 was also very chilly, with Nenana breakup on May 7.
Friday ice cam round-up! Check out what's happening around the state. Clockwise from top L: Colville River @ Ocean Point, Copper River below Tazlina, Yukon River @ Eagle, & Teedriinjik River @ Venetie pic.twitter.com/Tyz9AOKevg
— Fresh Eyes on Ice (@FreshEyesonIce) April 15, 2022
L: Kuskokwim River @ Napaskiak; R: Kuskokwim River @ Sleetmute pic.twitter.com/BvZEuMiHnA
— Fresh Eyes on Ice (@FreshEyesonIce) April 15, 2022
For Fairbanks/North Pole residents the potential for flooding of the Little Chena River is a concern. During the Fall 1967 flood, that drainage that flows into the main Chena River contributed a great deal of the water that inundated the local area. The Chena River Flood Control Project built later on the main Chena River doesn't protect us from the Little Chena drainage's influx.
ReplyDeleteI arrived here from Sitka a couple weeks later, but folks I worked with told me about the above scenario. When the water started rising out of the ground floor toilets it was time to leave home for higher ground.
Gary