Flood — Wrn Tanana Vly Wrn Yukon Vly, Alaska

2012-04-28 to 2012-04-30 · near Manley Hot Springs, Wrn Tanana Vly Wrn Yukon Vly, Alaska

Wider weather episode

An Ice jam developed on the Tanana River approximately 10 miles downriver of Manley Hot Springs and was first observed by a pilot at approximately 1430AKST on the 28th. A second smaller ice jam also formed at the landing at Manley Hot Springs. The main ice jam caused water levels to rise rapidly at Manley Hot Springs during the evening hours on the 28th, and by 1830AKST the NWS river observer reported a stage of 15.24 feet on the Manley Slough, which is about 2 feet above minor flood stage. Water was beginning to flow over the Elliot Highway and east end of the runway. Many homes adjacent to the slough had water surrounding them and the low lying areas around the community were filling with water. By 0530AKST on the 29th the water level was 15.99 feet and continuing to rise. The water level was now higher than the 1993 flood and the highest since an ice jam in the late 1970's. Approximately 10 homes had water in the crawlspace and/or basement including at least one cabin with water in the main level of the structure. The water crested at 16.03 feet at around 1000AKST and remained steady into the afternoon. The extent of the flooding increased as more water continued to fill the low areas around town. Approximately 10 inches of water covered a 200 foot stretch of the Elliot Highway. By 1630AKST the ice jam near the landing moved, and the water began to quickly move out of the slough. BY 0600AKST on the 30th, the water level had dropped more than 6 feet, and the Tanana River and Manley Slough were no longer overbank.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (64.9952, -150.6544)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 368303. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.