Alaska Ice

Thawing may be a welcome sight for Alaskans following a remarkably cold winter and early spring in much of the state. However, with melting comes the threat of rapid flooding in low-lying areas as river ice breaks up and periodically jams.

The landscape along the Kuskokwim River appeared frozen in a Landsat 9 image acquired on April 21, 2026. By May 7, the ice had begun to break up, and some stretches of the wide channel were still frozen over, while others contained broken-up ice.

Aniak remained at risk as ice clogged the river, causing waters to rise and a flood watch to be issued for the town. Flooding caused by spring breakup can be most hazardous when heavy snowpack and thick ice remain in place from the winter and there’s a sudden transition from freezing to warmer temperatures.