Flood in Central Beaufort Sea Coast, Alaska

On June 7th at 1500 AKDT, a USGS hydro technician observed an ice jam downstream of Spine road. The Kupurak Roads and Pads Foreman reported that the causeway approaches to bridges were flooded and that water went over the road on Sunday June 9th and rose Sunday night with an estimated 0.5 feet of water on the road. Water levels at the KUPA2 (Kuparuk River near Deadhorse) gage hit minor flood stage of 35.5 feet on Sunday June 9th at 0500 AKDT and rose steadily until early afternoon. There was a steep rise from mid-afternoon through 1900 AKDT to a relatively flat plateau around 36.7 feet. The Kuparuk Roads and Pads Foreman reported water was 0.7 feet deep over the road and that vehicles were being escorted across. On June 11th at 1200 AKDT the sate at KUPA2 was around 36.3 feet. Water levels remained above minor flood stage until late morning on June 12 when recession steepened, and fell below action state by the morning of June 13th.

Rivers on the North Slope began to open up during late May. An ice jam on the Kuparuk River formed downstream of Spine Road. A surge of high water caused by warm temperatures and snow melt in the Brooks Range was backed up behind the ice jam, causing flooding in low-lying and flood prone locations, as well as the low-water crossings approaching the bridges over the Kuparuk River.