Picturesque glacier releases water down a river in Alaska. More than 100 homes are damaged

Associated Press

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — An outburst of flooding from a lake dammed by Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier damaged at least an estimated 100 homes in what has become a perennial hazard for nearby neighborhoods. The lake formed in a basin left behind when a nearby glacier retreated. The basin fills with rainwater and snowmelt during the spring and summer, and when it reaches a certain point it builds enough pressure to force its way out beneath Mendenhall Glacier. Last year the flooding washed away a two-story home and undermined a condo building. That prompted some residents to reinforce the riverbank. Monday night’s damage was less dramatic but more widespread: Local officials said homes outside of expected flood areas were damaged.