Warm afternoon temperatures, warm air in the lower levels of the atmosphere, and high freezing levels above 8,000 feet will continue to work to increase the amount of snow and ice melt at higher elevations flowing into the Chilkat River Basin. Water levels will rise and fall on a diurnal pattern. * 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 Tuesday. * IMPACTS. Minor flooding in low-lying areas near the river. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS. - At 237 AM AKDT, river gauge reports indicate rises in water levels from upper elevation snowmelt across the advisory area. The Chilkat River gauge near Klukwan shows that the stage was at 127.3 ft & very slowly falling as of 2:35 am Monday. Minor flood stage is 126.0 ft. With warm weather subsiding, minor flooding is expected to continue near the Chilkat River through Tuesday evening. - Law enforcement reported flooding was observed on the North side of Klehini Bridge at Mile Marker 26. - For Chilkat River at Klukwan: At 2:35 am the stage was 127.3 feet & very slowly falling. Flood Stage is 126 feet. Forecast: The river level is forecast to continue to very slowly fall until finally dipping below minor flood stage late Tuesday evening. Impacts: At 126 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. At 127.5 feet: Lower elevations in backyards along the Chilkat River in Klukwan will be underwater, and a river acess road, smokehouses, and storage sheds will flood. Bank erosion is expected to increase near Jikaat Kwan Cultural Heritage Center Campus Traditional Knowledge camp.
