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000
WGAK89 PAFG 220823
FLSAFG

FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1223 AM AKDT WED MAY 22 2013

AKZ220-231800-
/O.CON.PAFG.FA.W.0003.000000T0000Z-130523T1800Z/
/00000.0.IJ.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
YUKON FLATS AND SURROUNDING UPLANDS AK-
1223 AM AKDT WED MAY 22 2013

...THE FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM AKDT THURSDAY
FOR THE YUKON RIVER AT FORT YUKON...

AT 1200 MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY MORNING INFORMATION WAS RECEIVED FROM A
FORT YUKON RESIDENT THAT THE ICE JAM HAD BROKEN AND THE WATER LEVEL
IS RISING. IT WAS OBSERVED THAT ICE CHUNKS ARE FLOWING DOWN ONE SIDE
OF THE CHANNEL.

THIS SUDDEN BREAK OF THE JAM HAS CAUSED THE WATER LEVEL TO BEGIN TO
RISE SLOWLY. A RUSH OF ICE AND WATER IS STILL POSSIBLE AND MAY CAUSE
SUDDEN FLOODING SIMILAR TO A DAM BREAK. THE JAM APPEARS TO HAVE
RELEASED AND IS SLOWLY RELEASING THE UPSTREAM WATER...BUT WITH
INCREASED SNOW MELT IT IS LIKELY THAT THE WATER LEVEL WILL RISE MORE
RAPIDLY. FORT YUKON IS CURRENTLY FLOODED IN LOW LYING AREAS ON  THE
WEST SIDE OF TOWN INCLUDING THE BALL FIELD...THE OLD TANK
FARM...SEVERAL HOMES...THE AREA AROUND THE TRIBAL HALL AND ONE
RUNWAY APRON AT THE AIRPORT.

MAJOR FLOODING THROUGHOUT THE TOWN OF FORT YUKON IS EXPECTED TO
DEVELOP BETWEEN NOW AND WEDNESDAY MORNING. WHILE FLUCTUATIONS IN
RIVER LEVELS ARE OCCURRING...THE REAL DANGER IS FROM THE ICE JAM
UPSTREAM OF FORT YUKON THAT HAS JUST RELEASED. THE ICE JAM UPSTREAM
HAS RELEASED AND THE WATER LEVEL IS EXPECTED TO RISE MORE RAPIDLY
AND WILL PUSH WATER AND ICE INTO FORT YUKON CAUSING MAJOR FLOODING.
THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION.



A FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING. WATER
LEVELS CAN RISE RAPIDLY AND PEOPLE ALONG THE RIVER ARE ENCOURAGED TO
MOVE PROPERTY TO HIGHER GROUND AWAY FROM THE RIVER BANK.

LAT...LON 6656 14556 6660 14528 6646 14486 6641 14516

$$

CF