Middle Kuskokwim villages experience earliest breakup on record

The river is clear below Napaskiak on Sunday. (Photo courtesy of BSAR)
The river is clear below Napaskiak on Sunday. (Photo courtesy of BSAR)

Middle Kuskokwim River villages reported that river ice is beginning to move out in what is expected to be the earliest river breakup on record for those villages.

Bethel Search and Rescue Chief Mike Riley posted on the BSAR Facebook page that the Kuskokwim River ice around Aniak, Napaimute, Chuathbaluk, and Kalskag was moving around 4 p.m. Sunday.

According to the National Weather Service breakup database, the earliest breakup for Kalskag was April 22, 1940. The records go back to 1938.

Riley says the ice should be completely out within a few days.

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