US: Glacial Outburst Flood Hits Juneau, Alaska, Forcing Evacuations

An overflowing glacial lake at the foot of Suicide Glacier north of Juneau, Alaska, caused the Mendenhall River to surge to record levels on Wednesday, August 13, flooding homes and streets and prompting evacuations. Such glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) occur when water trapped in a glacier-fed lake suddenly bursts through weak ice or soil barriers, sending a destructive surge of water, sediment, and debris downstream.