NOAK48 PACR 011624
PNSACR
AKZALL-071600-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
ALASKA-PACIFIC RIVER FORECAST CENTER
900 AM AKDT WED MAY 1 2013

...RIVER AND LAKE ICE THINNING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A STATEMENT TO ADVISE THE
PUBLIC OF THE THINNING AND DETERIORATION OF RIVER AND LAKE ICE AS
SPRING TEMPERATURES WARM ABOVE FREEZING.  PEOPLE USING RIVERS AND
LAKES FOR TRANSPORTATION OR RECREATION SHOULD CHECK THE THICKNESS
AND CONDITION OF THE ICE PRIOR TO USE.

ALTHOUGH APRIL TEMPERATURES OVER MOST OF ALASKA WERE MUCH COLDER
THAN NORMAL...LONG HOURS OF DAYLIGHT AND SLOWLY INCREASING
TEMPERATURES HAVE CAUSED RIVER AND LAKE ICE TO SLOWLY WEAKEN AND
THIN.  WARMER TEMPERATURES OVER THE COMING WEEK IN PORTIONS OF
ALASKA WILL CAUSE THAT PROCESS TO CONTINUE. REMEMBER THAT
SUNLIGHT CAN PENETRATE UP TO 18 INCHES OF SNOW CAUSING THE ICE TO
BEGIN TO THIN AND DECAY.  DANGEROUS RIVER AND LAKE ICE CONDITIONS
WILL DEVELOP AS THE DETERIORATION OF ICE CONTINUES OVER THE NEXT
COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS ADVISING PEOPLE TO BE AWARE OF  
THEIR SURROUNDINGS WHEN VENTURING 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. TRAVEL THAT MUST BE DONE SHOULD BE DONE WITH EXTREME
CAUTION.   

THIS STATEMENT WILL NOT BE UPDATED. 


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SDL