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FGAK88 PACR 281739
RVSAK
AKZALL-220000-
HYDROLOGIC STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
ALASKA-PACIFIC RIVER FORECAST CENTER
845 AM ADT TUE OCT 28 2008
..RIVER AND LAKE ICE UNSAFE
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A STATEMENT TO ADVISE THE
PUBLIC OF RIVER AND LAKE ICE THICKNESS THROUGH MOST OF ALASKA SOUTH
OF THE BROOKS RANGE. PEOPLE PLANNING TO USE RIVERS AND LAKES FOR
TRANSPORTATION OR RECREATION SHOULD CHECK THE THICKNESS AND
CONDITION OF THE ICE PRIOR TO USE. AT LEAST 4 INCHES OF ICE ARE
REQUIRED FOR A PERSON TO BE SAFE AND 6 INCHES FOR SNOW MACHINE USE.
RIVERS IN THE ALASKA INTERIOR AND SOUTHCENTRAL HAVE ONLY RECENTLY
FROZEN OVER OR ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF FREEZING UP AND THE ICE
IS TOO THIN IN MANY LOCATIONS TO SUPPORT A SNOW MACHINE OR A
PERSON. LAKES IN SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA HAVE ALSO RECENTLY DEVELOPED
AN ICE COVER AND THUS ARE TOO THIN TO SAFELY SUPPORT FOOT TRAFFIC
OR SNOW MACHINE TRAFFIC. ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT HEAVY SNOWFALL MAY
BE SUFFICIENT TO DEPRESS ICE AND CREATE OVERFLOW CONDITIONS.
SMALLER STREAMS IN SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA ARE ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF
FREEZING UP AND HAVE RISING WATER LEVELS RESULTING FROM THE
CONSTRICTION OF THE CHANNEL DUE TO THE ICE FORMATION.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS ADVISING PEOPLE TO BE AWARE OF
THEIR SURROUNDINGS IF IT IS NECESSARY TO VENTURE OUT ONTO THE ICE.
KEEP IN MIND THAT VARIATIONS IN ICE THICKNESS OCCUR NATURALLY IN
RIVERS AND STREAMS AND THE THINNEST ICE ON LAKES IS NEAR THE INLETS
AND OUTLETS. WIND AND WARM TEMPERATURES AS WELL AS PRECIPITATION
SUCH AS SNOW AND RAIN ARE ALL FACTORS THAT CAN QUICKLY AFFECT ICE
STRENGTH AND THICKNESS. TRAVEL THAT MUST BE DONE SHOULD BE DONE
WITH EXTREME CAUTION.
THIS STATEMENT WILL BE NOT BE UPDATED.
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