Alaska Under Disaster Alert as Imminent Glacier Flood Threatens Juneau
Alaska Under Disaster Alert as Imminent Glacier Flood Threatens Juneau
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has declared a state disaster for Juneau, the state capital, in response to the imminent threat of a catastrophic glacier lake outburst flood (GLOF). The declaration, issued Monday, follows warnings that the Suicide Basin, a side basin of the Mendenhall Glacier, has reached unprecedented water volumes, signaling an expected release at any moment.
Monitoring by the National Weather Service (NWS) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) confirms that water levels in Suicide Basin have met or exceeded those observed during prior record-setting flood events. Authorities anticipate widespread flooding along the Mendenhall River and its surrounding neighborhoods in the Mendenhall Valley. As of Monday night, the release had not yet commenced but is projected to occur at any point this week.
This marks the third consecutive year Juneau has faced severe glacier-related flooding. Previous GLOF events have caused extensive damage to homes and public infrastructure, leading to past state and federal disaster declarations. The current declaration follows joint requests for assistance from the city and borough of Juneau and two local Indian tribes, highlighting the gravity of the developing situation. Efforts to mitigate future impacts include the installation of over two miles of flood control barriers along the Mendenhall River.
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