The USGS monitoring equipment, the laser data and cameras are working.
Currently both the front and main basin cameras are sending images four times a day (6am, 10am, 2pm, and 6pm AKDT).
The USGS did install the overflow channel camera and it is sending images. Images are sent hourly via the cell network but only sends images during low network traffic. The USGS is also looking to add a second overflow camera to the left of the current view of the overflow channel.
The Mendenhall Lake and River are below normal water levels at this time. As we go through wet and/or warm periods, snow and ice melt runoff will periodically cause water levels on the lake and river to rise.
The Suicide Basin water level is steadily rising as seen on webcam imagery and laser data with the current elevation at around 1330ft. The basin water level rose around 14ft over the last week and has begun expanding into the entrance of the overflow channel. This time last year (2025), the water level elevation was around 1340ft and in 2024 it was around 1370ft.
As with the water levels of Mendenhall Lake, the amount of filling (input) into the basin will increase as temperatures rise to produce more runoff from the melting of snow and ice through the summer months. The estimated elevation of the overflow channel is around 1350ft and the most likely time with the current conditions to see a full basin is August 8-12th. Cloudy days will push the timing beyond that range while more sunny days would push it to the beginning of that range. In the past it has taken up to 6 days for the main event (sub-glacier release) to start after the basin is full.
Suicide Basin experienced a large calving event on Tuesday (July 7th). This was expected, as we have seen similar events in past years, and others may occur through July as the basin continues to fill. NWS and our partners will evaluate these changes to determine their impact on total basin volume. NWS will continue to monitor the basin and release any new information at least once a week on Mondays, so check back for updates.
Here is the NWS event report from the record 16.65ft major flooding event that occurred on August 13th 2025.
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