As we transition from winter ice thickness measurements to open water stage measurements, we at the River Forecast Center (RFC) want to thank those who collected data through the winter and welcome our summer observers back into action. As in other years, we ask all observers to help us with information through the breakup process. In addition to filling out the form with dates for the various stages of breakup, we would like to hear from you about what you are seeing as the breakup process proceeds. If you have not yet started taking observations due to an ice cover, please start checking the river on a weekly basis and report the condition of the ice. Increase your frequency of observation as the breakup process progresses and begin daily stage measurements when conditions permit. Write all ice and stage observations on your forms.
Unless you are reporting Tanana River observations, please call the RFC with observations regarding ice breakup. After breakup water stage and weather reports should be called to the RFC unless you are in the Fairbanks HSA, then you should call the Fairbanks Weather Forecast Office (WFO). See the box on Whom to Call.
For those observers not yet providing rainfall information, we will provide you with a 4" plastic gauge if you are willing to read it. For those with gauges already, please report the amount daily on your form and over the phone, even if the amount is 0.00 inches. All observations are valuable in our data-sparse state.