The National Weather Service has issued a Special Weather Statement. An ice jam on the Kenai River beneath the Sterling Highway bridge in Soldotna continues to hold as of midday Tuesday. Reports indicate the water is high and the river near bank full upstream of the bridge. Water is beginning to encroach on some yards in the area.
The recent cold snap has kicked ice production on the rivers along the western Kenai peninsula into high gear. These flows of ice moving down the river can become jammed at bridges or other natural constrictions in the river and cause water levels to rise. Some reports indicate this could be happening on the Kasilof River in addition to the Kenai River. While there are no active river gages on the Kasilof River, water levels at the gage on the Kenai River at the bridge in Soldotna have risen nearly seven feet since Sunday afternoon. With temperatures gradually warming throughout the rest of this week the most likely scenario is that the jam will remain in place but water levels will stabilize near where they are now or slowly fall.
Residents and other interested parties upstream and downstream on the Kenai river in the vicinity of the Sterling highway bridge in Soldotna should take extra precautions and prepare for the possibility of additional water level rises. In the event the ice jam releases, water levels will rise downstream of the bridge and will also be accompanied by substantial movement of ice pans and chunks. Ladders, boats, and other recreational equipment near the river bank should be secured.
