Ice Jam Frees

Unseasonably cold temperatures with heavy snowfall created a significant ice jam on the Cedar River in the downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa area in the early part of March, 2013. The ice jam was responsible for flooding along the river there, especially in the Ellis Park area. Temperatures in the upper 40s on Thursday, March 14 finally worked the ice jam free and the river again flowed unhindered through the city. The top image, shot around 4:15 PM, shows remnants of the ice field still hugging the west bank of the Cedar River in the foreground while the free-flowing river runs in the background. The bottom image shows the same situation as seen from the railroad bridge spanning the river to the Quaker Oats plant on the east bank.