• Record floodwaters are expected from the Mendenhall Glacier's ice dam, prompting evacuations.
• Emergency warnings in Juneau, Alaska, caution residents about the imminent threat of flooding.
• Last year's flooding damaged nearly 300 residences, with predictions indicating even higher levels this year.

Residents of Juneau, Alaska, are facing heightened evacuation warnings as floodwaters from a glacier outburst threaten their homes. The Mendenhall Glacier has begun releasing rainwater and snowmelt from a basin known as Suicide Basin, prompting officials to warn that this could lead to unprecedented flooding levels downstream. On Tuesday, emergency officials advised residents in flood-prone areas to "Don't wait, Evacuate TONIGHT," as flooding was anticipated to peak soon, according to CBS News and ABC News.

The National Weather Service indicated that the Mendenhall River had already reached a major flood stage of 16.51 feet, surpassing records set in the previous year. Floodwaters are expected to continue rising, with forecasters predicting levels could crest between 16.3 and 16.8 feet, further exacerbating concerns of significant flooding across the region, according to LA Times and BBC.

This flooding has become an annual worry since 2011, driven by climate change which has caused glaciers to retreat, constructing lakes behind ice dams. When melting water accumulates sufficiently, it overwhelms the dam, leading to catastrophic flooding downstream. This year’s flooding is particularly concerning as it may lead to damage similar to the last two years, when nearly 300 homes were affected, reports AA and LA Times.

Emergency services have installed temporary barriers and levees intended to protect properties in the flood zone as the Mendenhall Glacier's ice dam continues to release water. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is launching a comprehensive study to explore long-term solutions to mitigate such flooding risks, a process expected to span multiple years, according to CBS News and ABC News.