Appreciably warm temperatures in the Chilkat Valley through Tuesday will increase melt water runoff from area glaciers into the Chilkat River system. * WHAT. Flooding caused by snowmelt continues. * WHERE. The Chilkat River near areas around mile post 14 and 24 of the Haines Highway, near Klukwan and the Chilkat River Bridge. * WHEN. Until 1000 PM AKDT Thursday. * IMPACTS. Minor flooding in low-lying areas near the Chilkat and Klehini Rivers. River or stream flows are elevated. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS. - At 212 PM AKDT, river gauge reports indicate rises in water levels from melting of glacier ice and any remaining snow at higher elevations is occurring, and will cause minor flooding. Minor flooding is expected to begin late Tuesday night, especially near the Chilkat River and Klukwan. - For Chilkat River at Klukwan: At 2:00pm the stage was 125.9 feet and falling. Flood Stage is 126.0 feet. Forecast: The river continues to undergo a diurnal cycle of rising and falling. After falling through the afternoon hours on Tuesday, the river will begin rising again Tuesday night, and a crest around 126.2 feet is expected around 10:00am Wednesday. River levels will then slightly decrease before rising again to another crest of 126.2 feet around 4:00 am Thursday. Water levels are then expected to decrease to below minor flood stage by Thursday evening. Impacts: At 126.0 feet: Bankfull stage. Water will begin to flood backyards along the Chilkat River in the village of Klukwan. At 126.5 feet: Expect flooding of yards and bank erosion near the Jilkaat Kwan Cultural Heritage Center Campus Traditional Knowledge camp in the village of Klukwan. Water will flood lower elevations in backyards along the Chilkat River near Klukwan and start to impact some smokehouse and a river access road. - For Klehini R NR Klukwan: At 2:00pm the stage was 86.6 feet.
