Flood — Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

2023-09-08 to 2023-09-11 · near Soldotna, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

Event narrative

Observations of Snow Glacier indicated that a Glacial Dammed Lake (GDL) released on or around the 9/7/23 to 9/8/23. The Snow and Kenai Rivers rose rapidly in response, routing flood waters through the system from the GDL. The Snow River reached action stage, however as the flood propagated downstream it combined with high river baseflows to crest in minor flood at 13.48 feet at 3:15pm AKDT on 9/10/23 at the Cooper Landing river gauge.

Wider weather episode

The Snow Glacial Dam and Skilak Glacial Dam both released in early September causing highwater and widespread minor to moderate severity flooding from above Skilak Lake, AK downstream to Soldotna, AK.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (60.2438, -149.3784)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1133506. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.