Ice jams can cause potential for flooding over weekend

It’s a winter weather problem we often overlook.

It’s not a blizzard or an ice storm, but miles of ice on the Platte River in central Nebraska jamming up and creating the potential for flooding.

Portions of the river around the Minden and Gibbon exits have become inundated with ice flows and the National Weather Service said the recent temperature swings may be responsible.

“It’s common with weather patterns we have seen lately,” said Kate Shawkey of NWS.  “Such as extreme cold and then you start to thaw a bit we saw that last week we will see it this weekend. We don’t see it too much in Nebraska per se, compared to places way further north like Michigan, but we do see it in the winter time on our northern rivers such as the Platte or the Loup River.”

The ice jams block the flow of the river causing it to come over the banks and flood nearby areas.

Experts said ice jam flooding is not common in Nebraska, but that they’ve already seen it this year.

“They are very minor flood instances mostly just localized lowland flooding into some pasture areas so we wouldn’t be expecting a whole lot more than that,” Shawkey said.  “But it could impact some roads if it reaches that point so it is something to watch out for.”

And if the jam works its way down to Ashland, the Army Corps of Engineers may have to take measures like they did in the past — such as using explosives to break up the jams like they did in 1997.

The Central Platte Resources District said if you notice any ice build up, keep your eye on the river for at least 24 hours.  They said you should also identify alternate escape routes if a road becomes flooded.