Flood — Upper Kobuk and Noatak Vlys, Alaska

2023-05-18 to 2023-05-21 · near Kobuk, Upper Kobuk and Noatak Vlys, Alaska

Event narrative

An ice jam formed on the Kobuk River below Kobuk on May 18th. Minor flooding caused caused water to inundate low lying roads, around and partially under three homes, making some areas in the community on accessible by boat. Water levels started to gradually fall on the 20th and it is estimated the ice jam released on the 21st when water levels dropped back within back at the community.

Wider weather episode

A prolonged period of well-below-average spring temperatures combined with an above-average winter snowpack created a dynamic breakup of the Kobuk River. This resulted in numerous ice jams. April temperatures were well below normal, and when temperatures began to warm in early May, it melted the low-elevation snowpack quickly. Because of the relatively quick addition of snowmelt onto strong ice, the ice was more susceptible to jamming and floods.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (66.9097, -156.8884)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1105222. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.