Juneau

A naturally triggered avalanche ran down steep slopes above Thane Road in Juneau, Alaska, on March 24, 2026, prompting continued closure of the roadway due to high avalanche risk. Alaska DOT said strong ridgetop winds were rapidly transporting new snow, increasing the likelihood of additional slides reaching the road.

Juneau, Alaska set a new seasonal snowfall record at the Juneau International Airport, reaching 201.2 inches and surpassing the previous 2006–07 record of 197.9 inches. Meteorologists attributed the unusually snowy winter to persistent cold Arctic outflow that kept the rain-snow line south of the city.

Multiple small avalanches released on Mount Juneau above the Behrends neighborhood after the City and Borough of Juneau issued an evacuation advisory for known slide paths amid heavy rain, wind, and warming temperatures. Some residents evacuated and an emergency shelter opened as officials warned conditions could worsen and Thane Road closures could last days.

The Flood Advisory has ended and Thane Road has reopened, though closures are still possible.

The city is still tallying damages from last week's record snowfall as more continues to accumulate.

Juneau experienced record-high snowfall in December, with 82 inches, the most since the mid-1900s, defying global warming trends and recent winter patterns.

Juneau saw 9.6 inches of snow on Dec. 7, breaking the previous daily record as a Gulf of Alaska low brought the season’s first heavy snow to Southeast.

Juneau recorded 9.6 inches of snow on Dec. 6, breaking a daily record, followed by a National Weather Service advisory for sub-zero wind chills as low as -15°F. Skagway could see wind chills near -35°F, and multiple vehicle crashes were reported in Juneau during the storm.

Scientists confirm Mendenhall Glacier is no longer in contact with Mendenhall Lake, marking a new phase in its long retreat. The shift may slow near‑term ice loss but could alter tourism and views from the visitor center.

Bright aurora borealis displays lit up the sky over Juneau, Alaska, on Nov. 12, 2025, following a series of solar flares. Residents gathered at dark locations near Mendenhall Glacier and Lake to watch the northern lights.

Heavy rain and strong winds in Southeast Alaska are triggering flooding and small landslides, with Juneau, Ketchikan, and Wrangell on alert. Officials warn of saturated soils, rising streams, and increased landslide risk; a Ketchikan road briefly closed but has reopened.

The National Weather Service issued a flood warning Monday morning, saying that water gauges indicate the Suicide Basin had started to release into Mendenhall Lake.

The man’s travel companions lost sight of him after he fell into a stream and was swept into a vertical opening in the ice, Alaska State Troopers said.

The flood reached a record-breaking crest of 16.65 feet at about 8 a.m. Wednesday. Water continues to seep into Valley neighborhoods.

A young male humpback whale calf was discovered dead drifting near Sandy Beach in Gastineau Channel and towed by U.S. Coast Guard and NOAA officials to undergo a necropsy.

The Taku River near Juneau is rising rapidly due to a glacier lake outburst flood, approaching minor flood thresholds within the next 24–36 hours.

It was a sunny afternoon until the sky abruptly darkened, heavy rain came down and winds gusted up to 60 mph. A cruise ship docked downtown broke free of its mooring and drifted into the Gastineau Channel at the height of the storm.

An unusual sighting of Risso's dolphins near Benjamin Island.

On Sunday afternoon, a family on the Byron Glacier Trail in Portage Valley, Alaska captured footage of a large wet springtime avalanche that sent debris down into the valley floor. No one was injured.

The U.S. Forest Service has warned Juneau residents to avoid the Mendenhall Glacier due to a large crack that could lead to significant calving, posing risks to those recreating on the frozen lake.