Flood — Lower Koyukuk Middle Ykn Vlys, Alaska

2012-05-12 to 2012-05-14 · near Nulato, Lower Koyukuk Middle Ykn Vlys, Alaska

Wider weather episode

An ice jam caused minor flooding in Nulato. The ice jam was caused by large sheets of ice on the Yukon River about 2 1/2 miles above the village of Kaltag. Above the jam, the ice was packed tight for about 30 miles upriver to Nulato. On the afternoon of the 12th the Yukon River was backing up a significant amount of water into the Nulato River and Mukluk Slough. Water began to flow over several low lying roads, but was only a nuisance to village residents at this time. Water was flooding a smoke house at the mouth of the Mukluk Slough on the north end of town. By the morning of the 13th, the water levels had risen about 1 foot at Nulato. The spur road to the cemetery and tank farm, the south Frontage Road, and the road to the Nulato River were impassable at this time, but the flooding was still only considered to be a nuisance to residents of the village. The water continued to slowly rise during the day, and by the evening of the 13th the water was covering the road to the airport. The water continued to rise slowly rise into the morning of the 14th, and had come up 1 1/2 feet since the 13th. Access to the airport was limited to large trucks or boats. Water was also beginning to inundate the area around the fuel depot, prevent vehicle access to at least 2 homes, and flow under one residence. By the early afternoon of the 14th the ice jam released and the water rushed out of the village and the threat of flooding quickly ended.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (64.7339, -158.0545)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 371068. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.