Flood in Lower Kuskokwim Valley, Alaska

Flood May 1, 2020 – May 4, 2020 · Lower Kuskokwim Valley, Alaska

$50K

Damage as recorded

Where the report was made, with tornadoes recorded within 15 miles over the years.

What the National Weather Service wrote

The catastrophic ice jam which began on 4/30 held through 5/4 at the Kolmakof River. As a result, 16 cabins and several other buildings were destroyed or submerged, and the airport was under with feet of water. Most damage occurred in the vicinity of the Native Village of Napaimute.

The wider storm

An unusually high amount of snowfall, combined with an anamolously cold April set the precedent conditions for an impactful break up season. Ice was thicker across the rivers than it had been for several years. A rapid warm up across Interior Alaska caused upstream snow melting, leading to ice jams and widespread flooding along the lower Kuskokwim River.

Began near Aniak (61.6484, -159.0791).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 889071. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

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